The Steelers tight ends come up short in 2025 according to PFF
As the 2025 NFL offseason progresses into the summer months, there will constantly be a barrage of lists and rankings from various outlets. While some fans will have preferred places where they look for particular rankings, others will just avoid the information altogether.
Over the next two weeks, I will be reporting on the members of the Pittsburgh Steelers who landed in the top 32 players at various positions according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). I know there are many who like to criticize PFF rankings, with me being one of them, it doesn’t mean that their information is always incorrect. While they used rankings for some of their reasoning in placing the players on these list, it was not their ultimate deciding factor and instead was the opinion of the various authors depending on which position group was being covered.
Whenever I cover various things from PFF, I often give the disclaimer reminding people that their grades are merely an opinion. One thing PFF should be commended on is that they collect an immense amount of data, particularly looking at each player on every snap, in order to form their opinion. But more data doesn’t automatically deliver a correct opinion. Regardless, it is still a great point of discussion to see where the Pittsburgh Steelers rank and the various positional groups.
Next up, let’s look at PFF’s rankings at the tight end position where the Steelers only have one player in the top 32.
NOTE: This list was compiled by PFF before the Steelers signed Aaron Rodgers.
22. Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
Freiermuth had a nice bounce-back season in 2024, logging a career-high 68 catches and seven touchdowns. He also dropped five passes and fumbled three times while breaking just six tackles. His 70.0 PFF receiving grade was good, but with uncertainty in the Steelers’ quarterback room, his production might take another hit in 2025.
While it is important to note that Aaron Rodgers had not signed with the Steelers at the time this list was compiled, it really shouldn’t matter if it’s truly based on the tight end ability. I am beginning to wonder if this is merely about pass catching and potential fantasy points when it comes to tight ends instead of their all-around ability.
The first reason I question the list is based on Pat Freiermuth coming in 24th in his PFF score among tight ends in 2024. While that seems to line up fairly close to where he ultimately was ranked, Darnell Washington was ranked 17th but yet was excluded from the list. Additionally, Freiermuth scored a 70.0 receiving where Washington was just behind him at 69.9 according to PFF. So even though Washington offers a lot more in other departments, it seemed like this list was all about the receptions.
PFF had George Kittle as the top tight end on this list followed by Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, Mark Andrews, and Sam LaPorta. Travis Kelce landed seventh on the list, a player who had been considered the NFL‘s best tight end for years. The Baltimore Ravens had two tight ends in the top 10 as Isaiah Likely was also ranked ninth. The Browns’ David Njoku was ahead of Freiermuth as he was 15th on the list while the Bengals had one tight end on the list lower than the Steelers as Mike Gesicki came in 27th.
Although it’s difficult to end up on a list of top tight ends without putting up receiving numbers, it should be noted that Connor Heyward had the top pass blocking grade of any tight end in the NFL last season. When I came to run blocking, Darnell Washington was sixth among tight ends who played at least 100 snaps.
Whileit is concerning that the Steelers only had one player on the list and he landed in the 20s, it is apparent that this list isn’t based on all-around tight end play. Still, the Steelers tight ends have a lot to prove in the upcoming 2025 season.
Other position groups covered:
Why would QB uncertainty play into their evaluation here? I thought their grading system was supposed to account for individual performance regardless of its impact on the play.
Is this a TE ranking or a a Fantasy ranking?
Edit: I wrote this before reading your analysis. I came down here after reading PFFs.
Glad to see we agreed. 🙂
A E, PFF is the same organization that ranked Watt/Highsmith 11th and 12th over the past three seasons in terms of edge play and yet somehow Pgh’s DL was somehow ranked league best last season. Consistency is hard to come by at PFF, seemingly. Football Outsiders was way more consistent at what they did than PFF ever was.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought that was curious.
Was EZ to call out. My main PFF exposure comes from Matt Williamson, who seemingly is just fine with all things PFF. It’s as if Williamson never read 1984.
Like I’ve said many times, I appreciate their thoroughness in gathering data. They look at every player on every snap. But just because you have data doesn’t mean that you still form correct opinions of what is going on. If you just remember that it’s always an opinion, it’s much easier to stomach.
Not to worry, I have shares in the manufacturer of Pepto-Bismol, whose HQ is in… Cincinnati. Dam, son.
PFF = another excellent reason to avoid Cincinnati, just like Skyline chili. Disgusting food.
Man, I have to disagree on the Skyline Chili. That stuff is like God’s food for me. So much so that the wife actually researched the recipe and is able to perfectly duplicate it at home. Believe it or not, there’s some cocoa in it. I get that it might not be for everyone but, man, I love it.
Back in the day when the Steelers / Bengals feud was in full swing, aka the Burfict years, I got into an online tiff with a few of their Cincinnati-based fans. I won all arguments with the simple statement, “Keep it up and I will drive down to our rivers and pee in them. Rest assured, in a couple of days it will be in your water supply”.
Never mess with those who live upstream from you.
Maybe my Skyiine chili sample in Cincinnati was bad, but I don’t think so… agree to disagree here, Jon. Their dessert was okay, hard to ruin chocolate cake.
Once upon a time, I tested the water in public swimming pools… nasty.
a true Pittsburgh Steelers fan, since the 70’s both Pat Freirmuth and Darnell Washington are good tight ends and should be used more and all the sports media groups and Steelers haters with their rat poison they will never ever give any Steelers player any respect or credit in anything
I am not as down on PFF as a lot of other people are. What they do is ultimately subjective which makes them open to criticism. I certainly get the dismay with some of their grading, though. Hey, they have Zach Frazier projected as the 3rd best center in the league this year so there’s that.
I like Pat Freiermuth but, to me, he clearly isn’t an upper echelon tight end and it’s not particularly close. His stats are ok but not special. He was luxury drafted to be the Steelers next great tight end but he isn’t and likely won’t be. I am not crushing the guy or anything. Again, he’s a solid player.
One thing I will say is that he has had shoddy QB play pretty much his entire career. I would like to see him with a legit QB. Who knows of Aaron Rodgers will provide that or not.
PFF’s opinions are inconsistent, is all I mean, thus caveat emptor regarding those. Heck, people pay for their data hard for a reason.
I agree. PFF lacks consistency, but I don’t think they have it out for the Steelers. Their grades averaged out pretty much line up with what the team is.
As for Freiermuth, he runs nice routes and has good hands, but zero explosiveness and does not produce YAC.
Yep, that’s why I prefer Jonnu to Pat, the YAC, otherwise they’re practically the same guy, very little in-line blocking. Jonnu got help from all of that Miami motion that Pgh won’t do.