Better or Worse? 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers Tight Ends
The Pittsburgh Steelers have seen a lot of roster turnover this offseason, at many positions, and sometimes you have to wonder if the change which is made is always good. After all, change just to change isn’t what any NFL franchise wants to do, but changing for the better is always the objective.
However, with the current state of free agency losing players in inevitable. Making changes to your roster to help absorb those players lost is the challenge of every NFL front office. With that out of the way, it is time to take a look at the 2025 Steelers roster, by position, and whether or not the roster is better, or worse, entering the upcoming season.
Here are our past breakdowns:
Offensive Line
Defensive Line
Today we focus on the tight ends. Before giving a full analysis, let’s take a look at players lost, players added, and players who are expected to make a jump in production this season:
Players Lost:
- MyCole Pruitt (still a Free Agent)
Players Added:
- Donald Parham Jr.
- JJ Galbreath
- DJ Thomas-Jones (FB/TE)
Players Expected to Make a Jump:
- Darnell Washington
- Pat Freiermuth
- Connor Heyward
When it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers Tight End position, there hasn’t been a lot of turnover. MyCole Pruitt is still a free agent, but based on the team’s additions it seems they are ready to move on from Pruitt in 2025. With that out of the way, it becomes crystal clear the Steelers have their tight end room with only one spot remaining to be had among those newly added to the roster.
Some might argue Connor Heyward could be replaced, but if that happens the individual who replaces him will have to be a special teams player who can log significant time in that realm. While Heyward isn’t the FB/TE player most expected, he is a good special teams player.
Seeing a jump in production for players like Washington and Freiermuth will hinge a lot on the quarterback this season, and their ability to throw the ball over the middle of the field to take advantage of mismatches, especially for the big-bodied Washington. The player who is genuinely intriguing to me is DJ Thomas-Jones. He is listed as a fullback on the roster, but most would say he is a position flexible player with capabilities of player tight end on top of responsibilities as a fullback. The Steelers paid him the highest UDFA contract for a non-quarterback this offseason, so he’ll have every opportunity to prove his worth this offseason.
This run-down all equates to whether the position is better or worse heading into 2025? Let’s get to the verdict…
Verdict: Better
I don’t think there is any way you can say the position got worse when the only player lost was Pruitt; however, there is still plenty to be desired when it comes to the production from the tight end position this season. Fans keep waiting for the explosion at the position, in terms of production, and you have to wonder if it doesn’t happen in 2025 if it will ever happen.
What about you? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the rest of the offseason and get ready for training camp.
Better I guess? I don’t see a jump in production from any of them. Freiremuth maybe sees a slight uptick in production, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
For whatever reason Pittsburgh doesn’t seem to care to attack with their TE’s, and I’ll be damned if I can figure out why. You have a solid reliable guy in Freiremuth, and a walking mismatch in Washington yet they always seem to be an afterthought.
TBD, agreed. The coaching and QB influence the entire passing game, we’ll see.
Re Washington
Smith likes to use TEs. IMO the likeliest explanation for his lack of targets is suspect route-running.
If that’s true, he’s got the best shot at a big improvement.
The frustrating part is we’ve seen Pat be very good with Ben, but they just don’t get him involved enough. He had flashes last year, however. Hoping Mason or Rodgers or cousins or whoever is at qb gets him more involved
Please, not Cousins! I’d rather Tyler Huntley. Cousins can’t move.
It’s the same as far as I’m concerned. Until I actually witness it, I’m just not convinced Freiermuth will be anything other than meh. He’s a decent receiver but hasn’t shown to be amazing- and maybe it’s qb and maybe it’s scheme or maybe he’s just a not very big tight end who isn’t particularly fast that while he has good hands, he has improved to be only an ok blocker instead of awful and will reliably miss multiple games each season due to injury. If he’s your top guy then even it’s technically “better” it sure isn’t a team strength. And since the upgrade here seems so marginal, I’m calling “same.”
I agree. He always seems to get tackled as soon as he catches the ball. I can’t remember the last time I saw him do something dynamic like catch a ball in space, and run it 10 or 15 yards, or break through contact for an extra 5 or 10 yards.
Also agree. He seemed better with Roethlisberger when he didn’t block.
a true Pittsburgh Steelers fan, since the 70’s the Steelers tight end room is great I just hope Mason Rudolph throw to the tight ends a lot in the middle of the filed