Pat Freiermuth Could Be Steelers X-Factor in 2024

With the Pittsburgh Steelers lacking a true No. 2 wide receiver, tight end Pat Freiermuth could emerge as the Steelers X-factor this season. Last season with the Atlanta Falcons, where Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was the head coach, tight ends Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith were second and fourth on the team in targets.

Freiermuth could be a perfect match in Smith’s offense. It’s also a contract year for the Penn State product.

Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus recently tabbed Freiermuth as a player to watch for on the Steelers this season.

“Freiermuth must carve out a more clearly defined role in Arthur Smith’s offense, which relies heavily on 12 personnel. Pittsburgh will also need him to look much more like his 2022 self, especially considering there seem to be few reliable receiving targets alongside George Pickens,” Locker wrote.

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth at the team’s OTAs, May 28, 2024 – Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Last month, Brooke Pryor of ESPN named Freiermuth as a player who surprised the most at minicamp/OTAs. She thinks it could be a breakout year for him.

“Arthur Smith’s offense is a tight end’s dream, and it’s already waking up Freiermuth from a nightmare of a 2023 season,” Pryor wrote. “Hampered by a nagging hamstring injury and playing in a disjointed offense, Freiermuth had a career-low 32 catches for 308 yards, less than half of his output from 2022. But the 2021 second-round pick is poised for a resurgence with a new quarterback and offensive coordinator, and he showed early signs of good chemistry with quarterback Russell Wilson through offseason workouts. The Steelers don’t have a solid WR2 option, but that might not matter as much if Freiermuth continues on the kind of upward trajectory he established this offseason.”

As Pryor alluded to, the 2023 season was just a mess for Freiermuth. He had a nagging hamstring injury that sidelined him for five games, Matt Canada’s offense rarely utilized the middle of the field, and the quarterback play was horrendous.

Freiermuth revealed during OTAs that Smith has expanded his route tree.

“Slants, digs, and all that, I’m running it,” Freiermuth said. “Yeah. Yeah. It’s been awesome to add that, that full route tree to my repertoire. And you know, it’s been great. It’s been fun. Everything’s been great.”

Watch out for Freiermuth this season. A lot of the Steelers’ success on offense will depend on him.