During the 2023 free agency frenzy, the Pittsburgh Steelers have done a great job addressing some major needs. They signed Patrick Peterson at cornerback as well as bringing in Elandon Roberts and Cole Holcomb to try and get some form of consistency in the linebacker room. With all the moves that they have made, they still need to do more. While a true CB1 and some IDL depth are still needed, there is a gaping hole behind tight end, Pat Freiermuth. Behind him on the depth chart the team has...literally nothing.
Freiermuth is a great tight end, but is still developing and there still needs to be some sort of depth. Zach Gentry is a free agent and while he could come back, the Steelers might want to try to get someone better, especially with Matt Canada being in favor of two-TE formations. Connor Heyward acted as the TE3 for the Steelers in 2022, but he's still undersized. With Derek Watt also being a free agent, Heyward will most likely be used more as a utility man than a full-time tight end. He could occasionally line up as tight end, but not regularly.
Who could the Steelers acquire to fill the void being Freiermuth?
There are some veteran free agents that the Steelers could try and grab and most of them would come cheap. Austin Hooper isn't as good as he once was, but he could still be effective as a TE2 behind Freiermuth. Hooper is only 29 and has gas left in the tank and his recent lack of production as a team's top tight end should make him somewhat cheaper. A veteran presence like Hooper could be a boost to the receiving core and there's no pressure to try and be the guy on a team.
Every year, there are great players that slip through the cracks and have to take undervalued, one-year contracts. With the lack of a market for Dalton Schultz, the Steelers could try and capitalize on that. The top tight end in this free agent class has watched other tight ends find new homes while he still waits for the right offer.
If he doesn't get that offer, he could take a one-year deal and provide a major upgrade to this young offense. Maybe the Steelers extend him after that season, like they did with another former Cowboy on a one-year prove it deal: Damontae Kazee. Either way, this would be a great option for Kenny Pickett as he develops in Pittsburgh's offense.
The Steelers could also try and sign pure blocking tight ends for depth. Dan Arnold or Marcedes Lewis come to mind. They could then look to the draft a complement to Freiermuth. A prospect like Darnell Washington could be a great second round pick and make for a deadly tight end combo. If Michael Mayer can fall to pick #32, the Steelers should at strongly consider taking the position's top prospect.
The Steelers might also try to use a second round pick to fix the defense further and look for value later on. Alfredo Roberts attended the pro day for Michigan so the franchise could look to get Luke Schoonmaker later on in the draft. They could also try and draft Sam LaPorta from the tight end factory known as Iowa or they could go for Zack Kuntz, who is somehow taller than Darnell Washington.
Either way, the Steelers need to look into picking up some legitimate tight end options, especially if Freiermuth, unexpectedly, gets injured. Heyward just won't cut it as a regular option. There needs to be a quality tight end behind Freiermuth on the depth chart. With other needs being filled in free agency, it's time for the Steelers to fill another one and it can be done very cheaply.
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