There have been fairly the flurry of modifications for the Pittsburgh Steelers offense this offseason. Whereas the additions and subtractions to the roster are a projection and ready recreation to observe play out, TE Pat Freiermuth stays and is due for an enormous yr.
The objective of this text is to supply some statistical context to this notion, with indicators from the 2024 season including consolation to how nicely that might go for Freiermuth and the Steelers.
First, let’s take a look at his quantity (targets/catches) in 2024 amongst tight ends with a minimum of 60 targets (24 qualifiers):
Right here, we see Freiermuth was beneath the imply in targets, with 74 final season (14th). Not a foul rating on the place, however was the second-least targets in his 4 yr profession, solely to an injury-shortened 2023 season (44 targets). This implies Freiermuth was focused extra his first two seasons, and I assume a number of would agree that narrative altering would profit the offense.
One cause is being a dependable goal, touchdown above-the-mean with 65 receptions (T-eighth) regardless of his decrease goal share. This places Freiermuth as one of many furthest gamers above the development line (diagonal line), which means he was the most effective safety blankets on the place in 2024.
Not that I’m advocating for him matching final years goal chief in Raiders TE Brock Bowers, who precisely doubled Freiermuth at a whopping 148 targets, however sufficient current success warrants extra involvement.
To realize extra context to Freiermuth’s reliability, right here’s catch proportion and contested catch charges final season:
Clearly, we see that Freiermuth was the very best amongst qualifying TEs in each stats. His 87.8 catch proportion was three factors increased than his friends (49er George Kittle 84.8), and he had an 85.7 contested catch fee. The latter was impressively over ten factors greater than the remainder of the pack, with Raven Mark Andrews coming in at 75-percent.
There are various elements to how receiving stats come to fruition. However it’s fairly plain that Freiermuth’s most up-to-date resume factors to a security web that offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and whoever begins at quarterback for Pittsburgh in 2025 can be smart to get extra concerned.
