Over the past two years, the Steelers have significantly invested in their tight end room to help improve the offense.
Pat Freiermuth signed a four-year, $48.4 million extension on September 6, 2024. Freiermuth is
the ninth-highest-paid tight end in the league and earns an average annual value of $12.1 million.
In a blockbuster trade with the Miami Dolphins, including Minkah Fitzpatrick and Jalen Ramsey, Pittsburgh acquired Pro Bowler Jonnu Smith. Smith played for Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith in Tennessee (OC) and Atlanta (head coach).
Jonnu Smith’s cap hit for 2025 is $5.1 million. Arthur Smith’s offense centers around heavy offensive sets and two-tight-end personnel. It would be logical to believe the two veterans would be threats in the passing game through the first four weeks.
Where is the bang for your buck?
A fan favorite and Penn State alumn, Freiermuth caught a career-high 65 passes last season on 78 targets. This season, Freiermuth has been one of the Steelers’ biggest disappointments offensively.
Freiermuth totaled seven catches for 65 yards and didn’t reach the end zone before the bye. Aaron Rodgers had only targeted Freiermuth 10 times. In his last two games, Freiermuth has one catch for six yards. He was not targeted in Ireland against the Vikings. As a 6-foot-5, 260-pound tight end that has proven to be a constant threat over the middle of the field, how does that happen? The Steelers have underutilized Freiermuth, and Sunday’s game was a prime example.
Freiermuth only played 13 offensive snaps against the Vikings. The Steelers’ top tight end played fewer snaps than Darnell Washington, who played 48 snaps, the most of any skill position player. Even Connor Heyward played more snaps (16), including a direct snap on the Steelers version of the tush push.
The same can be said for Jonnu Smith. Smith has been more productive in terms of catches (14), but averaging only 5.1 yards per grab. The former Dolphins tight end has 71 receiving yards and a touchdown. Smith played the fewest of all four tight ends — 13 snaps — for the team’s second leading receiver by receptions. His catches have gone down from five, to four, to three, to two over the past four games.
For an offense that caters to being tight-end friendly, Freiermuth and Smith have been more like ghosts in the night on the field as we begin October. Not the same as Sam Darnold seeing ghosts — who is the only quarterback to beat the Steelers so far — but the offense is making them seem invisible.
The Steelers moved the ball at will against Brian Flores and an experienced Vikings defense. Gameplan wise, jumbo formations worked against Minnesota as Kenneth Gainwell rushed for 99 yards and two scores.
Pittsburgh saw an opportunity against the Vikings’ weakness and exploited it. But a game has become a pattern as we reach the quarter-season mark of the 2025 campaign.
I expected Freiermuth and Smith to contribute more. Jonnu Smith set career highs in targets (111), catches (88), yards (884), and tied his touchdown total (eight) playing in Mike McDaniel’s offense.
Freiermuth and Smith have combined for 21 catches, 136 yards, and one touchdown. Their combined cap numbers exceed $18 million.
The scheme has worked, so far, but it will be a different story when the Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills come to town. Going to Detroit will require the Steelers to adjust and adapt to what their opponent gives them.
It’s time to prepare and execute with the tight ends in focus, just like the previous two offseasons have put Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith under the spotlight, and get their money’s worth.
