Pat Freiermuth | Penn State 6’5” 251 lbs. 10/25/1999 (Age 22)
Pat Freiermuth was drafted 55th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers, becoming the 2nd tight end and 55th overall player in the 2021 NFL Draft.
COLLEGE PRODUCTION
| Year | Games Played | Receptions | Yards | Yards/Catch | TDs |
| 2016 (FR) | 12 | 26 | 368 | 14.2 | 8 |
| 2017 (SO) | 13 | 43 | 507 | 11.8 | 7 |
| 2018 (JR) | 4 | 23 | 310 | 13.5 | 1 |
Freiermuth impacted at the NCAA level immediately. He finished his freshman season with 8 touchdown receptions. In his next two seasons combined, he caught 8 touchdowns as well. Freiermuth finished his three-year college career with 92 receptions for 1,185 yards and 16 touchdowns in just 29 career games. His junior season was cut short due to sustaining a shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery.
STRENGTHS
Freiermuth has the ideal frame of an NFL tight end, and he has the complete game for one as well. He shows great awareness as a pass-catcher, and he also displays strong hands who can pluck the ball out of the air over defenders. He consistently finds soft spots in zone defenses, and he has great route-running abilities. He also shows the ideal tools to become an elite blocker.
WEAKNESSES
As mentioned before, he has the tools to become an elite blocker, but for now, he lacks strength. Freiermuth isn’t a deep threat down the field, and he doesn’t show great run-after-the-catch skills. He also lacks speed at his position, but nonetheless, he could improve on all of his weaknesses.
ATHLETIC TESTING
At his Penn State Pro Day, Freiermuth measured in at 6’5” and 251 lbs. Which equates to a BMI of 29.76. Unfortunately, he didn’t participate in any speed or strength drills due to recovering from his shoulder surgery he suffered during the 2020 season.
DRAFT ANALYSIS
Rapid Reaction to Draft Capital: Good
Rapid Reaction to Landing Spot: Good
Freiermuth was selected with the 55th-overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
FANTASY INSIGHTS
Freiermuth should be a TE2 for his new team. Eric Ebron is expected to start over Freiermuth to start the season, but you can expect Ebron to lose that spot at some point. Expect Freiermuth to adapt to the league quickly, but also keep in mind he’s coming off shoulder surgery, so it might take him a season to shine. For now, consider him a top-40 fantasy tight. He could be used for spot starts, but don’t rely on him too heavily.
Thank you for tuning in to DFF’s 2021 NFL Draft Coverage! Stay tuned as we break down every fantasy-relevant pick during the draft. Please consider becoming our yearly DFF subscription member so we can continue to deliver top-notch analysis and fantasy breakdowns. Our yearly subscription will save you $40 and lead you to fantasy championships. You can also follow me @dirrim23 where I love talking about all things fantasy football!
