The Pittsburgh Steelers used a second-round draft pick on tight end Pat Freiermuth because they saw him as a complete tight end prospect, somebody who could not only contribute significantly as a pass-catcher but as a blocker as well, both in the run game and the passing game.
He showed the sort of impact that he could have as a receiving option when he caught a pair of touchdown passes from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the team’s third preseason game, two impressive adjustment grabs that were a little more than the routine.
The blocking, while effective in spurts, has a way to go yet, something Freiermuth knows himself, though he feels confident that he has put some good work on tape—and, to be clear, he has, but he’s also very much learning.