SECOND ROUND (55th overall)
Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State
WHO HE IS: Freiermuth is a 6-foot-5, 251-pound junior who had his 2020 season cut short due to a shoulder injury that required surgery (he declared himself "fully healed" shortly after being drafted by the Steelers). According to Dane Brugler of The Athletic, Freiermuth's father is a former Mr. Basketball in New Hampshire (1988), his mother was a longtime field hockey coach and his uncle (Mike Foley) is a longtime college football coach who currently coaches the offensive line at Massachusetts.
WHAT HE'S DONE: Despite playing just four games in 2020, Freiermuth was named First-Team All-Big Ten and won the Big Ten Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year Award. In his three seasons at Penn State Freiermuth established a reputation for having good hands, an understanding of how to get open and an ability to gain yards after the catch. His career totals include 92 receptions for 1,185 yards and 16 touchdowns, the program record for tight ends. He was deployed in the slot, on the wing and inline by the Nittany Lions.
He considers himself a "team-first" player who isn't opposed to blocking or doing anything else that;'s asked of him.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "This is a classic throwback tight end with soft hands, the ability to get yards after the catch and, most importantly, he puts the ball in the paint." _ NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks.
"I think that's what (the Steelers) liked about me the most, my willingness to do everything." _ Freiermuth.
WHERE HE FITS: Tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts praised Freiermuth's "position flexibility" (ability to play inline as well as in the slot or elsewhere) and maintained Freiermuth "can do some of the heavy lifting" as he works to hone his technique and realize what the Steelers perceive to be his significant potential and upside.
