Something strange is going on at the Steelers tight end position. Maybe it’s a fluke, maybe it’s too small a sample size, but it appears that Darnell Washington is becoming tight end one on this team. For only the second time this season, Washington led the two in recieving yards Sunday. This, in what was the most important game of the season for the Steelers. Both players played an equal amount of snaps in this pivotal game at 44 a piece. Now that might not seem like much, but it is when you keep in mind the supposed hierarchy at this position.
Pat Freiermuth is considered the undisputed TE1 on this team by most. He is the former second round pick who was tabbed as the next great tight end for the Steelers. Freiermuth signed a 4 year, 48 million dollar contract this past off-season. That contract ranks him the 9th highest paid tight end in the NFL. So why, over the last five games, does have the exact same amount of targets (12), as Darnell Washington? Why during that same time period is he being out produced 142 to 117 in receiving yards?
Losing the production battle with Darnell Washington is a real problem for Freiermuth, because there is no question who the better blocker is on this team. Washington is an elite blocking tight end. At 6’6”, and over 270lbs, he is basically another tackle on the field. If Washington is clearly a better blocker, and now is even if not better in the production standpoint, what does this lead us to believe as far as tight end one on this team.
The uncomfortable truth is Pat Freiermuth may be highly overrated here in Pittsburgh. There have been flashes of greatness, but the consistency just isn’t there. We can blame all the bad quarterback play over his career, and it has certainly been abysmal. Russell Wilson has been much better since he took over however, and there’s been no spike in production for Muth. In fact, his yards per game have been dropping. At the end of the day Pat Freiermuth is what he is, a slightly above average tight end with very poor blocking skills.
Ten games into the 2024 season, Freiermuth has more yards (295-168), and touchdowns (3-1). As we head into the final seven weeks of the season, and five more AFC North games it isn’t crazy to think Washington may close the gap in production. He is clearly more suited for bad weather AFC North ball. If that ends up being the case, we may have to reconsider who is the best tight end in Pittsburgh.
Don’t forget to check out the latest episode of the STEELERS SANCTUARY PODCAST here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1981237/episodes/16139940-episode-60-good-bad-ugly-and-browns-preview