Pat Freiermuth

McCarthy's offense leans 11 personnel (1 TE), and Pittsburgh stacked the WR room with DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman, and 2026 2nd-rounder Germie Bernard — Freiermuth profiles as the 3rd-4th option in the target pecking order.

Freiermuth was severely underutilized in 2025 under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, finishing with career-low 54 targets and openly expressing disappointment post-season. Smith appears to have favored Jonnu Smith despite inferior production, creating significant role uncertainty even with potential new coaching staff under Mike McCarthy.

At 27 with five NFL seasons and a career-best PPR rank of TE24, Freiermuth has never broken out in Pittsburgh. The window for a dynasty peak is narrowing, and continued scheme-driven target suppression makes another middling season the base case.

Aaron Rodgers (42) returned on a one-year deal, providing only a single-season floor; a 2027 transition to Drew Allar (R3 rookie) or another QB injects real volume uncertainty.

McCarthy's 11-personnel scheme elevates Darnell Washington as a featured run-blocker and first/second-down presence, potentially crowding Freiermuth's snap share in base packages. McCarthy's recent comments singled out Washington's blocking role, introducing a genuine ceiling question for Freiermuth's volume.

Washington is slated for an expanded role in 2026, capping Freiermuth's route ceiling; he profiles as the receiving TE but never fully escapes a two-TE rotation.

Mike Tomlin resigned and Mike McCarthy was hired as head coach with Brian Angelichio as tight end coach, which is viewed as highly favorable for Freiermuth. A new offensive system could restore his target share after his vocal dissatisfaction with the 2025 role.

Multiple reports suggest Jonnu Smith is unlikely to return in 2026 after a disastrous season as the worst TE in yards per target over six years. His departure would restore Freiermuth to clear TE1 status with significantly improved target opportunity.

McCarthy's West Coast offense historically features pass-catching TEs over inline blockers — a profile shift that explicitly favors Freiermuth over Washington. New OC Brian Angelichio brings a TE coaching background from Minnesota, an organization known for committing to featured tight ends in the passing game.

PFF named Freiermuth Pittsburgh's top trade asset and multiple teams reportedly have called; landing with a QB-stable, TE-friendly offense (Chiefs and Bears cited as interested) could meaningfully unlock talent that Pittsburgh's scheme has never fully utilized.

The transition tag and reported team expectation of a Rodgers decision by May 18 OTAs suggests the Steelers are confident in his return. Rodgers' elite accuracy and historical TE targets (Finley, Tonyan, Wilson) represent the clearest path to Freiermuth cracking TE12 range.

Jonnu Smith (released) and Connor Heyward (signed with Raiders) both left, leaving Freiermuth as the clear unquestioned receiving TE1 with only blocking-first Darnell Washington and depth rookie Riley Nowakowski behind him.