The Pittsburgh Steelers have drafted tight ends in 3 of their last four drafts, using premium picks to take 2 of three of those players.
So should Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin dip into that well in the 2025 NFL Draft? Time to take a look.
The Steelers Tight Ends. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com
Steelers Depth Cart at Tight End: The Starter
In his penultimate draft, Kevin Colbert took Pat Freiermuth in the 2nd round of the 2021 NFL Draft and since then Freiermuth has easily been the most consistent player on the Pittsburgh Steelers offense.
Whether he’s been catching passes from Ben Roethlisberger, Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, Justin Fields or Russell Wilson, Pat Freiermuth has easily been the quarterbacks’ most reliable target. Freiermuth has improved his game each year, despite the fact that the Steelers offense has conspicuously avoided the middle of the field.
Fans may have given Freiermuth some heat for failing to convert a few first downs during the ugly 5-game losing streak the Steelers suffered, but that frustration is misplaced. Had the rest of the Steelers offense played at the level Freiermuth was playing at, the Steelers wouldn’t have lost 5 straight.
Steelers Tight End Depth Chart: The Backups
Has there ever been a third round pick that’s captivated the collective imagination of Steelers Nation the way Darnell Washington did when Pittsburgh picked him in the 3rd round of the 2023 NFL Draft?
Visions of a 6’7”, 264-pound tight end towering over linebackers in the end zone have a way of doing that.
Alas, two seasons into his NFL career, Darnell Washington hasn’t flashed that he’s the next Ron Gronkowski, but it was unfair to expect him to be. What Washington has done is improve from his rookie to his sophomore year, by almost trebling his receptions, increasing his yards catching by more than 3 times, and more than doubling his catches for first downs.
Darnell Washington catches the first touchdown of his career. Photo Credit: Steelers.com
If nothing else, Connor Heyward will always be the last offensive player drafted by Kevin Colbert to play a down for the Steelers. In his first two season, Connor Heyward seemed to be carving a niche out for himself in the Steelers offense as a sort of utility receiver as he worked in as an H-Back.
2024 saw his playing time and production decline, as MyCole Pruitt got snaps at Heyward’s expense. The Steelers also have Donald Parham Jr. whom they signed to a futures contract and who brings 47 games, 23 starts and 67 catches of experience to the Steelers.
The Steelers 2025 Draft Needs @ Tight End
Overall, the Steelers are in a very good place at tight end going into the 2025 NFL Draft. It is not a position Pittsburgh must prioritize.
There is one X-Factor at work, however.
Mike Tomlin pointedly declined to endorse his returning starting offensive line, and reporters such as Jim Wexell have suggested that tackle is actually Darnell Washington’s natural position, intimating that he could make the transition from tight end much the way Larry Brown did two generations ago.
Currently the Steelers don’t have the depth at tight end to entertain such a move, but if they draft a tight end early, that could change.
But until that happens, this is just speculation and therefore the Steelers need at tight end going into the 2025 NFL Draft should be considered as Low.
