Tag: Pat Freiermuth

4 rookies on Steelers initial Week 1 depth chart to start versus Buffalo Bills

Of Pittsburgh’s eight remaining rookies, half are in line to start Week 1 in Buffalo. Not too shabby for the Steelers 2021 draft class. 

The first depth chart of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2021 season was revealed on Monday. Of the five remaining rookies, four are in line to start Week 1 in Buffalo. Not too shabby.

WATCH: Pat Freiermuth scores first two TDs in Steelers preseason win

Former Penn State tight end Pat Frieemruth scored his first two touchdowns of the preseason in a Steelers preseason win this weekend

One of the joys of the NFL preseason for college football fans is watching their favorite players begin to make a name for themselves at the next level. On Saturday, as the Pittsburgh Steelers were taking on the Detroit Lions in a preseason matchup, former Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth was doing just that.

Freiermuth scored his first two touchdowns of the preseason in a victory over the Lions. Freiermuth was responsible for both of Pittsburgh’s first two scores of the game, as he caught a pair of touchdown passes from Ben Roethlisberger in the first quarter.

Freiermuth certainly was living in the moment, and he seems to have his post-touchdown celebration routine with teammate Eric Ebron down…

After the game, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was complimentary of the rookie tight end, suggesting he hopes NFL teams around the league weren’t watching too closely.

The Steelers drafted Freiermuth with a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft last April, and he is in position to be a long-time contributor in the Steelers offense. If he continues the kind of production he showed in this preseason game, Steeler fans are going to be big fans for a long time in western Pennsylvania.

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What ratings are former Penn State players getting in Madden NFL 22?

What rating did Saquon Barkley and Allen Robinson get in Madden NFL 22?

You can tell football is coming soon, because people are going crazy over the ratings given to some of the top NFL players in the annual release of the Madden NFL video game franchise. Madden NFL 22 is just around the corner and the first batch of player ratings have started to be revealed.

We’ll keep track of some of the notable Penn State players getting rated by the video game this year and see how they all stack up.

What ratings are former Penn State players getting in Madden NFL 22?

What rating did Saquon Barkley and Allen Robinson get in Madden NFL 22?

You can tell football is coming soon, because people are going crazy over the ratings given to some of the top NFL players in the annual release of the Madden NFL video game franchise. Madden NFL 22 is just around the corner and the first batch of player ratings have started to be revealed.

We’ll keep track of some of the notable Penn State players getting rated by the video game this year and see how they all stack up.

Penn State football 2021 NFL draft player signing tracker

How much are former Penn State players making on their rookie contracts in the NFL in 2021?

Penn State managed to send two players through the first round of the 2021 NFL draft, and one more in the second round. When all was said and done, a total of six Penn State players ended up hearing their names announced as NFL draft picks during the course of the 2021 NFL draft. But now that the draft is in the books, these players are already getting to work with their new NFL teams.

So, what now for these former Nittany Lions like linebacker Micah Parsons and tight end Pat Freiermuth? Signing those first NFL contracts! As is typical, the later-round draft picks are easier and quicker to sign their NFL contracts, as the higher draft picks tend to have a little more negotiating power even if rookie contracts can be relatively standard.

We’ll keep tabs on all of the draft pick contracts to be signed this year by Penn State players who have become NFL rookies in 2021, and we will update this information as needed when more information does become available. Contract details used here are obtained through the terrific sports contract resources available from Spotrac.

Pat Freiermuth doesn’t want to be called Baby Gronk

Former Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth apparently hates being called a baby version of Rob Gronkowski.

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Rob Gronkowski may have ruined a generation of tight ends playing football forever. It seems everywhere you look these days in college football, the next big tight ends are being referred to as Baby Gronk. Former Penn State tight end and new Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Pat Freiermuth hates it.

“I hate it,” Freiermuth said after his first rookie camp with the Steelers this week, according to All Steelers. “I think it’s pretty annoying. I am trying to get away from that nickname. So I won’t be called that.”

It would make perfect sense for a member of the Steelers to abhor the very idea of being referred to as a player who made a name for himself playing for the New England Patriots. But Freiermuth suspects the Baby Gronk nickname was easily influenced by being from the New England area. But he still hates it.

“I hate it because I think it’s pretty annoying,” Freiermuth said. “I don’t like being called Baby Gronk. I’m trying to get away from that nickname. I don’t want to be called that.”

Freiermuth is hardly the only young tight end to be called Baby Gronk. Florida’s Kyle Pitts, who was drafted with the fourth overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2021 NFL draft, has undoubtedly had the comparison made about him as well as others. And more will be coming in the years to come.

There is some reason to be flattered to be compared to Gronkowski. Gronkowski, who played his senior year of high school for Woodland Hills High School near Pittsburgh, has gone on to have a wildly successful career in the NFL. He is a four-time Super Bowl champion, including last season with Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after coming out of retirement for one season. Gronkowski has been selected to play in five Pro Bowls and is a four-time All-Pro.

But Freiermuth is hoping to one day have young tight ends be referred to as Baby Muth (note to self: trademark that ASAP). Freiermuth was selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft by the Steelers and is coming off a First-Team All-Big Ten season for the Nittany Lions.

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Will Pat Freiermuth score a touchdown in his NFL debut against the Bills?

Pat Freiermuth’s NFL debut with the Pittsburgh Steelers looks like it will come in Week 1 against the defending AFC East champions.

There was plenty of NFL schedule news on Thursday. With the release of the 2021 NFL schedule rolling out, we got our first glimpse at when exactly a number of former Penn State players will be playing their first games, and who they will be facing.

Micah Parsons will play in the NFL season opener for the Dallas Cowboys against defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay. Odafe Oweh will take the stage on Monday Night Football when the Baltimore Ravens travel to Las Vegas to play the Raiders. In between, former Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth may get his chance to get his first taste of the NFL, and potentially his first career NFL touchdown.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will play the defending AFC East champion Buffalo Bills in Week 1, with the Bills hosting the Steelers for a 1 pm kickoff.

The Steelers drafted Freiermuth with their second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Freiermuth is expected to be a staple in the Steelers offense in due time, and maybe even as early as the season opener.

The Steelers also signed former Nittany Lion safety Lamont Wade as an undrafted free agent.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion.

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Have the Steelers finally found Heath Miller’s replacement?

The Steelers may have finally found someone to fill the 6-5 void left by legendary tight end Heath Miller.

The Steelers may have finally found someone to fill the 6-5 void left by legendary tight end Heath Miller. The truth is, though, until the 55th pick of the 2021 NFL draft, they hadn’t tried very hard.

Five tight ends have donned the black & gold since Miller announced his retirement five years ago. Jesse James and Zach Gentry were both fifth-round selections, and Nick Vannett, Vance McDonald and Eric Ebron were each acquired via trade or free agency.

None has come close to duplicating the talent and effort of Miller. If anyone can do it, though, it’s Pat Freiermuth. Like Miller, Freiermuth is a 6-5 vertical threat who can — and will — make the tough catches. He makes up for his lack of athleticism by being physical at the point of attack.

It’s too early in the offseason to say how the Steelers will use the rookie tight end. Generally, a player at that position comes along slowly in the NFL, which could be to Freiermuth’s advantage. The Steelers obviously believe that Freiermuth has a future catching passes — they wouldn’t have drafted him if they didn’t. While his hands are certainly reliable, Freiermuth’s route-running skills leave a lot to be desired.

With all of the receiving weapons and the addition of running back Najee Harris, the Steelers should have the luxury of giving Freiermuth time to sharpen his route-running skills while he acclimates to game speed.

Usage could be a different story once in the red zone — Freiermuth was a scoring machine at Penn State, and it would be a shame to waste that potential.

Miller wasn’t too shabby in the red zone either. By the time he retired in 2015, he had racked up 45 touchdowns to add to 6,569 yards on 592 receptions.

Only time will tell if Freiermuth is the next best (tight end) thing since Miller, but Pittsburgh is the right place to make it happen.

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‘Baby Gronk’ since high school, expectations for Steelers rookie TE Pat Freiermuth are already high

Steelers rookie tight end Pat Freiermuth has been hearing the nickname “Baby Gronk” dating back to high school.

When you’re born and raised 30 miles outside of Boston, chances are you’re a Patriots fan. When you’re also a towering top tight end talent in high school, chances of being compared to Rob Gronkowski are pretty good.

Being assigned No. 87 as a freshman Nittany Lion only guaranteed that moniker would follow him from Boston to State College, Pa.

Known as a proficient blocker and an aggressive pass-catcher, Steelers rookie tight end Pat Freiermuth has been hearing the nickname “Baby Gronk” for longer than he cares to remember — dating back to high school.

Gronkowski, 6-foot-6, 268-pounds, and Freiermuth, 6-foot-5, 251-pounds, are similar in frame and playing style. But the comparisons end there — for now, anyway.

“It’s cool being compared to [Gronkowski], but I’m not even close yet to being where he is,” Freiermuth said in a 2019 Boston Herald interview.

Gronkowski’s 10-year career has netted him 8,484 yards, 86 touchdowns and five Pro Bowls.

One would think the comparison brings undue pressure and perhaps lofty expectations, especially for someone just entering the pros.

Professionally, Freiermuth hasn’t earned the Baby Gronk nickname. But hopefully it won’t be long until he’s on his way.

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Steelers draft TE Pat Freiermuth: Instant analysis of the No. 55 pick

With the 55th pick in the 2021 NFL draft, the Steelers select Pat Freiermuth, tight end, Penn State.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers shocked the world — okay, maybe only Steelers fans — with their selection of tight end Pat Freiermuth at No. 55 overall.

The pick is a head-scratcher. The Steelers aren’t desperate at the tight end position, and using their second pick on one is desperate.

Pittsburgh still has holes, especially along the offensive line, most notably at center. If they don’t address the position at No. 87, that’s a huge concern. B.J. Finney is only a bandaid and not a great one at that.

Sure, there are great aspects of Freiermuth’s game. At 6’5, he’s a giant target that not only Ben Roethlisberger but the future Steelers quarterback will love. Freiermuth’s break physicality continues through his catch, and with 9 7/8-inch hands, that radius is wide.

Freiermuth is a tackle-breaker, especially with the ball in his hands. He’s quick to elude defenders, and the stiff arm is his weapon of choice.

If Freiermuth is inside the 20, he’ll sniff out the end zone and come away with a score.

As a blocker, though, his game needs work. New tight end coach Alfredo Roberts will need to coach Freiermuth up on his blocking. In the air game at Penn State, he was usually used as a pass-catcher and not asked to block much. When blocking in the run game, Freiermuth was often overly aggressive.

What’s scary is Draft Wire‘s Doug Farrar gave a worst-case scenario player comparison of Eric Ebron, citing Freiermuth’s penchant for drops. The best case is Rob Gronkowski, so that eases the blow a bit.

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