The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed tight end Pat Freiermuth to a four-year extension valued at $48.4 million, as reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
This move comes ahead of the Steelers’ Week 1 game on Sunday, with the team making an effort to secure Freiermuth’s contract before the season opener, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Brooke Pryor.
Freiermuth is anticipated to play a significant role in the offense under new coordinator Arthur Smith this season. He is expected to be the second-leading pass-catcher behind George Pickens, especially after the Steelers’ attempt to acquire wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk from the San Francisco 49ers did not materialize.
Last season, Freiermuth experienced a downturn in performance, registering 32 receptions for 308 yards and two touchdowns across 12 games. His standout year was in 2022 when he set career highs with 63 receptions for 732 yards.
The Steelers selected Freiermuth in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft from Penn State.
