Pat Freiermuth

Steelers, Pat Freiermuth Agree To Extension

September 6th, 2024 at 12:34pm CST by Adam La Rose

To little surprise, a deal is now in place for Pat Freiermuth. The Steelers’ push for an extension in time for the start of the season has resulted in a long-term accord.

Team and player reached agreement on a four-year extension Friday, per his agency (via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network). Freiermuth will collect $48.4MM on his new deal. He was attached to the final year of his rookie contract for the coming campaign, so he will now be on the books through 2028. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette adds the pact includes $23.38MM guaranteed.

A report from earlier Friday pointed to the sides making progress toward a deal. As a result, this news comes as little surprise. Freiermuth played a key role in the Steelers’ offense during his first two seasons in the league, notching back-to-back years with 60 receptions. He scored nine touchdowns during that span, though his production took a step back in an injury-shortened 2023 campaign. At the age of 25, however, Freiermuth has emerged as a key figure in Pittsburgh’s long-term offensive planning.

The former second-rounder’s $12.1MM AAV ranks ninth at the position, in between Cole Kmet and Dalton Schultz. The top of the position’s market remains set with Travis Kelce, T.J. Hockenson and George Kittle leading the way, but Freiermuth was never expected to reach those heights on his second contract. He will nevertheless become one of the team’s top earners on the offensive side of the ball.

The Steelers have Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in place as an inexpensive quarterback tandem. Running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are on their rookie contracts, as are three starters on the offensive line. With Diontae Johnson no longer in the fold, George Pickens (who will not be eligible for an extension until next year) is in place as the team’s top receiver. Freiermuth’s cap charge will likely not spike to a cumbersome figure with this extension, but he will take up a larger piece of the allocated resources when general manager Omar Khan evaluates the offense in the future.

Questions linger entering the season about Pittsburgh’s depth in the receiving corps. Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin, Scotty Miller and third-round rookie Roman Wilson will be counted on to complement Pickens after a trade agreement with the 49ers over Brandon Aiyuk did not result in a swap taking place. Aiyuk inked a San Francisco extension, leaving future cap resources available to Freiermuth and others. He will be expected to deliver a rebound in 2024 and beyond while playing out a lucrative new contract.

Extension Talks Progressing Between Steelers, TE Pat Freiermuth

September 6th, 2024 at 12:06pm CST by Adam La Rose

Cameron Heyward has a new deal in place ahead of Week 1 after the Steelers’ push for an agreement proved to be successful. An extension for tight end Pat Freiermuth is also a priority, and he too may soon work out a deal.

Team and player are making progress on an extension in Freiermuth’s case, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Brooke Pryor report. The 25-year-old has one year remaining on his rookie contract, so getting a contract worked out now would prevent the possibility of a free agent departure. Finalizing a second Pittsburgh accord has long been known to be on the team’s radar.

A Freiermuth extension was floated in July as a possibility, and the Steelers have clearly made it a goal to keep him in place beyond the coming campaign. The Penn State alum had a strong start to his career, posting 60 and 63 receptions during his first two years with the Steelers. This past season saw him limited to 12 games due to injury, however, and his production took a step back. General manager Omar Khan and Co. are confident a rebound will be possible now and in the future given the pursuit of an extension.

Pittsburgh’s offense will be led by Arthur Smith, who is expected to rely on a run-heavy approach during his first season in charge. Both of the team’s top two running backs (Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren) are pending free agents, leaving plenty of uncertainty surrounding their futures. Likewise, the receiving corps has been a talking point through the offseason as few known commodities are in place beyond George Pickens.

The 2022 second-rounder is expected to operate as Pittsburgh’s clear-cut No. 1 this season after Diontae Johnson was traded away. The Steelers had a trade agreement worked out with the 49ers for Brandon Aiyuk, but he wound up signing a San Francisco extension. That leaves Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin, Scotty Miller and third-round rookie Roman Wilson in place as complementary pass catchers. Freiermuth will be leaned on in that regard as well for at least the 2024 season, but he could very well remain in place beyond that point.

Steelers Discussing Extensions With DT Cameron Heyward, TE Pat Freiermuth

September 2nd, 2024 at 8:57am CST by Adam La Rose

The Steelers have a strict policy against in-season contract negotiations. No exceptions will be made in 2024 with respect to new arrivals like quarterbacks Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, and the same applies for in-house players aiming for a new deal.

With that team-imposed deadline approaching, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes talks are ongoing between the Steelers and the camps of defensive tackle Cameron Heyward and tight end Pat Freiermuth. Both players are pending free agents whose financial futures have drawn attention earlier this offseason. It will be interesting to see if a deal can be struck with at least one before the regular season kicks off.

Heyward threatened to skip OTAs in the spring when he made his desire for a new deal known, although he wound up participating in the voluntary workouts along with minicamp and training camp. The three-time All-Pro is angling for a two-year extension, and his preference would be to remain in Pittsburgh to close out his career. Heyward has spent his entire 13-year tenure with the Steelers, serving as the anchor of the team’s defensive front for much of that time.

The 35-year-old earned a Pro Bowl nod every year from 2017-22, reaching double-digits sacks three times in that span. This past season was marred by a groin injury, though, and Heyward was limited to just two sacks, his lowest total since 2012. He will be healthy for the start of the coming campaign, and in the absence of a deal being worked out, the extent to which he regains his previous form will determine how willing the Steelers are to make another financial commitment. An update from July indicated team and player were not making progress toward an agreement, but Steelers GM Omar Khan more recently confirmed his expectation Heyward will be in the fold beyond 2024.

Heyward is due $16MM this season, but his cap hit sits at $22.41MM. The latter figure ranks second in 2024 cap charges for defensive linemen and 11th overall for defensive players. An extension would lessen Heyward’s cap hit in the immediate future, but with recent draft investments like Keeanu Benton, DeMarvin Leal and Logan Lee in place alongside veterans Larry Ogunjobi and Dean Lowry, Pittsburgh could be hesitant to make another multi-year commitment. Heyward ruled out the Browns as a potential 2025 free agent destination, but he is open to playing elsewhere if no new agreement is reached.

To little surprise, given the age difference between the players, Dulac adds that Freiermuth is likelier than Heyward to work out a deal in the coming days. The 25-year-old had an impressive start to his career, recording back-to-back 60-catch seasons. Freiermuth scored nine touchdowns during that time, leading to high expectations for the 2023 campaign. He was limited to 12 games last year, though, and only managed a 32-308-2 statline.

Nevertheless, Freiermuth is known to be on Pittsburgh’s extension radar. The Penn State alum is entering the final year of his rookie contract as things stand, putting him in line to collect $1.48MM. A long-term deal will of course check in at a much higher price, especially if the Steelers remain confident Freiermuth can perform at the level he did in 2021 and ’22. 11 tight ends are currently attached to an AAV of $10MM or more, and Freiermuth could join that group or at least take a step toward it on a second Pittsburgh contract.

The Steelers have George Pickens in place as their top receiver, but in the wake of not landing Brandon Aiyuk via trade questions have been raised about their depth at the position. Regardless of how Pittsburgh’s other wideouts perform, Freiermuth could handle a large offensive role while working under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith – someone whose scheme is known to be tight end-friendly. As the countdown to Week 1 continues, the status of both Heyward and Freiermuth will be worth monitoring.

Steelers Eyeing Pat Freiermuth Extension

July 25th, 2024 at 9:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

In trading Diontae Johnson, the Steelers moved their only remotely expensive offensive player off the payroll. A defense-heavy roster that features big-ticket deals for T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Cameron Heyward, Alex Highsmith and Patrick Queen also houses an offense without any eight-figure-per-year players.

While George Pickens resides as a potential extension candidate, his rookie deal runs through 2025. The Steelers are not planning any preseason adjustments to Russell Wilson or Justin Fields‘ contracts, and James Daniels said the team is not planning to give him an extension before its long-held Week 1 deadline. This leaves an interesting imbalance ahead of the 2024 season, but one of Pittsburgh’s skill-position players does appear on the radar for a new deal.

Pat Freiermuth is coming off a down season, but The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly notes the Steelers have the fourth-year tight end firmly in their long-term plans (subscription required). A deal should be done before Week 1, per Kaboly. Otherwise, the Steelers — who have not negotiated contracts in-season in more than three decades — would need to wait until Freiermuth is on the cusp of free agency to complete a deal.

Arthur Smith‘s Falcons offense enjoyed production from its Kyle Pitts–Jonnu Smith tandem last season; the duo combined for 1,249 yards. Johnson’s departure leaves the Steelers thin at receiver, with the likes of Quez Watkins and Van Jefferson in the mix for the WR2 role — barring an addition before the season — as third-rounder Roman Wilson develops. Pittsburgh’s track record for developing wideouts notwithstanding, it is certainly possible Freiermuth is needed to be the 2024 team’s top Pickens sidekick.

A 2021 second-round pick, Freiermuth caught seven touchdowns in Ben Roethlisberger‘s final season and then totaled a career-high 732 yards (with two TDs) in 2022. A hamstring injury cost Freiermuth five games last season, and he finished with just 308 yards. Freiermuth has also sustained three concussions as a pro. Pro Football Focus viewed the Penn State alum as a top-10 tight end in each of his first two years, however, and the Steelers will again depend on him as a run blocker in another offense set to rely on Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.

While David Njoku and Evan Engram topped $13MM per year as franchise players, Freiermuth’s inconsistent production would seemingly move him to a slightly lower tier. The Steelers could potentially shoot for a deal between Cole Kmet‘s $12.5MM-AAV accord and Hunter Henry‘s three-year, $27MM pact authorized in March.

The Steelers added Freiermuth in hopes he could become a long-sought-after long-term option post-Heath Miller. The Steelers had cycled through tight ends — from Eric Ebron to Vance McDonald to Jesse James — since Miller’s 2016 retirement. It would appear the team is convinced Freiermuth can be that player. A commitment over the next six weeks would reflect that belief.

Steelers To Activate TE Pat Freiermuth, Place S Keanu Neal On IR

November 18th, 2023 at 2:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

NOVEMBER 18, 2:58pm: The Steelers officially announced Freiermuth’s activation this afternoon, along with a number of other Saturday transactions. Joining Freiermuth on the active roster will be practice squad linebacker Mykal Walker, whom the team was hoping to involve more with Kwon Alexander on injured reserve.

In order to make room on the roster, Pittsburgh has placed starting safety Keanu Neal on injured reserve. Neal joined his fourth team in as many years this offseason and has made the most of it, becoming a starter for the Steelers. He hasn’t had the strongest season, grading out as the league’s 62nd-best safety, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Neal’s absence will likely mean a bigger role for fellow safety Damontae Kazee, who was teammates with Neal from 2017-2021 during stints in Atlanta and Dallas.

Lastly, the Steelers announced their standard gameday practice squad elevations for tomorrow’s game in Cleveland. The team will promote LB Tariq Carpenter and safety Trenton Thompson for the matchup. Thompson’s callup fills out the depth chart a bit with Neal gone. Carpenter will team up with Walker to provide some reinforcements at linebacker with Alexander hurt.

NOVEMBER 18, 8:45am: The quick ramp-up period will be sufficient for the Steelers, who will activate Freiermuth at the earliest opportunity. Freiermuth will end up spending the minimum four games on IR, with NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero indicating he will move back onto Pittsburgh’s active roster before this afternoon’s deadline. While the former second-round pick has not played since Week 4, a hamstring aggravation is responsible for the extended absence. This transaction will leave the Steelers with four IR activations remaining.

NOVEMBER 15: Pat Freiermuth‘s third NFL season has not gone as hoped, but the Steelers are moving closer to having their tight end ready for the stretch run. The team designated the young pass catcher for return Wednesday.

This will start Feiermuth’s 21-day activation clock. The Steelers placed Freiermuth on IR due to a hamstring injury last month. While Freiermuth did not initially land on IR due to the injury, an aggravation led to the Steelers moving him off their 53-man roster.

The Steelers have moved to 6-3 despite persistent struggles on offense, but the team has missed Freiermuth and Diontae Johnson for extended chunks of the season. Johnson returned from his hamstring injury weeks ago, and it appears another activation will soon commence after a hamstring malady. This will be good news for Kenny Pickett, who targeted the 2021 second-round pick frequently in his first season as Pittsburgh’s starter.

Last year, Freiermuth finished with 63 receptions for 732 yards and two touchdowns. While his yards-per-reception and touchdown numbers were down compared to his rookie year, the Penn State product’s yardage total dwarfed his rookie-year number (497). Pickett and Mitch Trubisky targeted the talented tight end regularly, and the Steelers came into this season expecting another steady showing from the 6-foot-5 weapon.

Freiermuth has not played since Week 4, and he struggled to find his footing in the latest Matt Canada-run Pittsburgh offense. Freiermuth finished three games with fewer than 10 receiving yards, and although Week 4 involved an early exit, Weeks 1 and 2 brought sluggish outings. Freiermuth has eight receptions for 53 yards and two TDs this season. In his absence, the Steelers have seen Connor Heyward work as their top receiving tight end. The second-year option has 17 catches for 137 yards. Third-round rookie Darnell Washington has not factored in prominently, exiting Week 10 with three grabs for 23 yards.

Steelers Activate WR Diontae Johnson, Place TE Pat Freiermuth On IR

October 21st, 2023 at 8:36am CST by Ben Levine

The Steelers will welcome back a key member of their offense, but they’re also set to lose their starting tight end for at least the next month. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Steelers have activated wide receiver Diontae Johnson from injured reserve. To make room on the roster, the Steelers have placed tight end Pat Freiermuth on injured reserve.

Johnson suffered a hamstring injury during the season opener that ultimately required a stint on injured reserve. The receiver was designated to return to practice earlier this week, opening his 21-day window to be activated.

The former third-round pick has been a productive member of the Steelers offense through his first four seasons in the NFL. Johnson earned his first career Pro Bowl nod in 2021 after finishing with 107 catches for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns. With Kenny Pickett taking over for Ben Roethlisberger in 2022, Johnson’s numbers took a bit of a step back, with the receiver finishing the campaign with 86 catches for 882 yards and no touchdowns.

George Pickens has picked up the slack through the first chunk of the season, hauling in 22 catches for 393 yards. Allen Robinson and Calvin Austin have combined for only 280 yards, so Johnson will surely provide a spark to Pittsburgh’s offense.

“I am very excited. It’s been a long process, fighting to get back. I am looking forward to showing them I am ready for Sunday,” Johnson said this week (via the team’s website).

Freiermuth suffered a hamstring injury in Week 4 that forced him to miss the following week’s game, but the tight end was expected to be good to go following the Week 6 bye. Freiermuth aggravated the hamstring injury during practice this week, and now he’ll miss at least the next four games while recovering from the injury.

The former second-round pick had a standout sophomore season in 2022, finishing with 63 catches for 732 yards. He’s struggled to put up similar production in 2023, even with Johnson out of the lineup. In four games, Freiermuth has hauled in only eight passes for 53 yards.

Rookie third-round pick Darnell Washington should jump to the top of the depth chart with Freiermuth out. The Steelers are also rostering Connor Heyward and Rodney Williams at the position, with Noah Gindorff currently sitting on the practice squad.

Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth Facing Multi-Week Absence

October 2nd, 2023 at 9:29pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Steelers’ offense will be down another starter for the time being. Tight end Pat Freiermuth is expected to miss two to three weeks with a hamstring injury, reports Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The team’s passing attack is already without wideout Diontae Johnson, who is on injured reserve due to his own hamstring ailment. Losing Freiermuth for an overlapping stretch will leave the Steelers without their top pass-catcher at the TE spot and thus hinder a passing attack which has failed to live up to expectations so far in 2023.

The 2021 second-rounder recorded at least 60 catches in each of his first two seasons in Pittsburgh, proving his value as a consistent complimentary option on offense. This year, however, Freiermuth has posted just eight grabs for 53 yards (though two of them have resulted in touchdowns). In spite of the underwhelming totals, his absence will be felt on a unit which does not feature a similarly established option at the position.

Pittsburgh has 2022 sixth-rounder Connor Heyward – who has made 14 catches to date in his career – and third-round rookie Darnell Washington available as replacements. The latter, who established himself as an athletic standout in a deep tight end class at the Combine and proved to be a highly effective blocker at Georgia, has received only one target to date. That total will likely increase in the near future with Freiermuth unavailable.

The status of quarterback Kenny Pickett is uncertain at this point after he exited the Steelers’ Week 4 loss with a knee injury. That ailment is not serious, though, meaning he could suit up for Week 5. Regardless of who is under center for Pittsburgh – a team which has the bye coming up in Week 6 – this Sunday, the offense’s skill-position corps will be shorthanded. With the Steelers’ offense coming under fire after a 2-2 start, it will be interesting to see how the unit fares at less than full strength.

AFC North Notes: Steelers, Jones, Ravens

October 21st, 2022 at 1:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

A bit of a controversy developed in Pittsburgh this week. Mitch Trubisky and Diontae Johnson engaged in a shouting match during halftime of the Steelers-Jets contest, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes, adding that this provided the impetus for Trubisky’s benching. Mike Tomlin did not confirm or deny a shouting match between the quarterback and the team’s highest-paid wideout ensued, though Johnson essentially confirmed a football-related argument took place. But The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly adds the dispute was not the deciding factor in the 16th-year coach moving to Kenny Pickett for the second half of that game. Johnson wanted more targets from Trubisky in that Week 4 game, Dulac adds, leading to the team’s original starter standing up to the fourth-year receiver.

Tomlin benched Trubisky primarily due to his underwhelming performance during the season’s first month, with Kaboly adding he had already decided to go with Pickett. Trubisky sat throughout Week 5 but played well when reinserted into Pittsburgh’s lineup following Pickett’s Week 6 concussion. Despite a bounce-back relief effort against the Buccaneers, Trubisky is set to return to the bench. Pickett cleared concussion protocol Friday and is in line to start against the Dolphins, Tomlin said. Levi Wallace and Pat Freiermuth also cleared the protocol, arming the Steelers with key starters.

Here is the latest from the AFC North:

It looks likely Deion Jones will make his Browns debut Sunday. The team held off from activating the recently acquired linebacker from IR last week, giving the longtime Falcons starter more time after designating him for return. Jones is progressing fast in Joe Woods‘ defense, per linebackers coach Jason Tarver (via cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, on Twitter). Tarver said Jones could be in position to wear the green dot, signifying headset communication, in the near future. The Browns, who lost Anthony Walker to a season-ending injury in Week 3, acquired the six-year Atlanta cog for merely a 2024 pick swap.
Cleveland will be without multiple Pro Bowlers against Baltimore, however. The Browns ruled out Wyatt Teller and Denzel Ward for their divisional matchup. Teller is battling a calf strain, while Ward will miss a second consecutive game due to a concussion he suffered in Week 5.
Ben Powers has operated as the Ravens‘ left guard this season, winning a training camp competition. While 2021 third-round pick Ben Cleveland was nominally in that battle, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic notes the younger Ben in this matchup did not mount a serious push at winning the job opposite Kevin Zeitler. The Ravens have been frustrated with Cleveland’s inability to practice consistently due to injuries, Zrebiec adds. Cleveland missed the first week of training camp due to a failed conditioning test and has missed the past two games due to a foot injury. The Ravens did see Cleveland return to practice Thursday. Cleveland, who started four games last season, has not played an offensive snap this year. Baltimore was holding a three-player competition for the job Powers won. The third entrant, Tyre Phillips, is now with the Giants.

Week 5 Injury Roundup: Mayfield, Hill, Williams, Concussions

October 10th, 2022 at 9:03am CST by Adam La Rose

The Panthers’ losing streak continued yesterday, leading to questions not only about head coach Matt Rhule‘s job security, but also Baker Mayfield‘s hold on the No. 1 quarterback job. Performance may not affect the ability of the latter to suit up for Week 6, however, as he was seen in a walking boot after the team’s loss to the 49ers.

“A little painful right now,” he said when asked about the injury to his left foot. “I’m not real sure exactly what it is. We’ll examine that tomorrow and find out. So right now I’m managing the pain and learning to step in the boot.”

Mayfield will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury, per Ellis Williams of the Charlotte Observer (Twitter link). With Sam Darnold still on the mend from the ankle injury he sustained in the preseason, and rookie Matt Corral out for the season, the Panthers would turn to P.J. Walker should Mayfield miss any time. The former XFLer game into last night’s contest for Carolina’s final possession, as Mayfield was suffering from the effects of the injury and the score was out of reach.

Here are some other injury updates following the league’s Week 5 action:

Tyreek Hill was also seen in a walking boot following Miami’s loss to the Jets (Twitter link via ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques). Head coach Mike McDaniel said that he was stepped on late in the contest, leaving his Week 6 availability in the air. Hill has been exactly what the Dolphins paid for (in draft capital and financial commitments) so far, with 38 catches for 528 yards and two touchdowns. His average of just under 105 receiving yards per game is the highest of his career, so any absence would be significant for the team’s offense.
The Ravens’ defense delivered a noteworthy performance last night against the Bengals, but lost a key member of the unit along the way. Head coach John Harbaugh said after the game that safety Marcus Williams dislocated his wrist, and will miss a “significant” amount of time as a result. That will deal a major blow to Baltimore’s secondary, as the high-priced free agent signing has been productive this season with three interceptions and five pass deflections.
While Dolphins QB Teddy Bridgewater earned the unwanted distinction of becoming the league’s first player to be removed via the new concussion protocols yesterday, he was not alone in that regard. Per team announcements, Saints wideout Chris Olave, Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth and Browns cornerback Denzel Ward were each ruled out of their teams’ respective games with concussions. Under the new regulations, it has been acknowledged, some players will be removed from games and not allowed to return despite passing initial checks for concussion symptoms.
Going back to the TNF contest which kicked off Week 5, the Broncos’ injury woes continue. Long snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer will miss “extended time” after suffering an injury to the hand/wrist area, 9News’ Mike Klis tweets. Losing the 25-year-old for the foreseeable future will add to the league-leading 12 players the Broncos already have on IR, which have no doubt contributed to the team’s underwhelming start to the season.

Steelers Sign Round 2 TE Pat Freiermuth

May 25th, 2021 at 3:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers are nearly done signing their 2021 draft picks. Shortly after they agreed to terms with first-rounder Najee Harris, the Steelers announced second-round selection Pat Freiermuth signed his rookie deal.

Freiermuth played three seasons at Penn State and declared for the draft after his junior year. Staying in Pennsylvania to start his pro career, Freiermuth profiles as Pittsburgh’s long-term tight end hopeful. Eric Ebron remains on the Steelers’ roster, but he is under contract through the end of the 2021 season only. Feiermuth is set to earn $6MM over four years, with a $1.74MM signing bonus.

Penn State used Freiermuth frequently in the red zone; the 6-foot-5 tight end totaled 15 touchdown receptions between his freshman and sophomore seasons. Freiermuth topped out at 507 receiving yards as a sophomore but still managed north of 300 in a four-game 2020 slate. He suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery last November. Even playing just three seasons, one of which abbreviated by injury and the COVID-19 pandemic, Freiermuth totaled 16 career touchdown catches — a Penn State tight end record.

Despite glaring offensive line needs, the Steelers went with Freiermuth with the No. 55 overall pick. That certainly reveals confidence he could become their sought-after Heath Miller replacement as a long-term option at the position. Of the Steelers’ draftees, only third-rounder Kendrick Green is unsigned.