Steelers' Pat Freiermuth not in ESPN top 10 for tight ends ahead of 2022 NFL season

Expectations are undeniably high for Pittsburgh Steelers tight end and 2021 second-round draft pick Pat Freiermuth ahead of the start of training camp. 

Freiermuth began practices last summer with future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger serving as his starting quarterback and then went on to finish his rookie season with 60 catches for 497 yards and seven touchdowns. Recently, the 23-year-old has been mentioned as a "potential first-time Pro Bowler" and also a "fantasy football breakout candidate" even as former Chicago Bears castoff Mitchell Trubisky appears locked in as the favorite to at least temporarily replace Roethlisberger atop Pittsburgh's depth chart. 

For a series shared by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, over "50 league executives, coaches, scouts and players" were surveyed to help name the top 10 players at multiple positions, including tight end. Freiermuth didn't land in the main list published on Thursday but was an "honorable mention." 

"Freiermuth impressed as a rookie with 60 catches for 497 yards and seven touchdowns while navigating Pittsburgh's vertically challenged offense," Fowler noted. "He caught 75.9% of his targets, including 61.5% of his tight-window passes (second among tight ends, per NFL Next Gen Stats). 

"'He's really, really impressed me,' an AFC offensive coach said. 'Just a good football player, has a feel for how to get open, athletic, tough. Needs to work on his blocking.'" 

Earlier this week, The Athletic's Mark Kaboly explained: "With Eric Ebron gone and the Steelers likely to attack the middle of the field more with likely starting quarterback Mitch Trubisky, Freiermuth’s numbers could skyrocket him into one of the top six tight ends in the league by the end of the year." 

It seems the Trubisky-Freiermuth connection will be one to watch during training camp workouts and the preseason.