Connor Heyward was one of the most pleasant surprises for the Pittsburgh Steelers this past season. A sixth-round draft pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, he is quickly making himself known for being more than "Cam Heyward's little brother." Heyward is technically listed as a tight end, but is an extremely versatile player who has the capabilities of lining up as a traditional tight end, slot receiver, and fullback. His ability to play multiple positions is a tremendous thing for the Steelers and may allow the team to save a roster spot by opting to have him serve as the team's de facto fullback in 2023.
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Steelers Tight End Connor Heyward Breaks Free After a Huge Catch Against the Cleveland Browns.
The decision to have Heyward serve as the fullback in addition to his responsibilities as a tight end would of course mean the end of the Derek Watt era in Pittsburgh. While Watt has been effective for the Steelers, especially on special teams, it may be hard for Omar Khan to justify having him on the team only for short-yardage situations as well as special teams. This is where the versatility of Connor Heyward comes in. Not only would this decision allow Connor Heyward to be on the field more, but it would also allow for the team to bring in an additional tight end to the roster.
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While Heyward may not have the same size and strength in terms of run-blocking as Watt, he is inarguably a much better receiver and runner of the football. During his time at Michigan State, Heyward was a "Swiss Army knife" for the Spartans, playing running back, fullback, and tight end. He finished his collegiate career with 825 yards rushing for five touchdowns as well as 711 yards receiving for six touchdowns. He was not officially listed as a tight end for Michigan State until his senior season.
Connor Heyward Serving As The Steelers' Fullback Opens Up Possibilities
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of opting not to re-sign Derek Watt and have Connor Heyward fill in is the possibility of the Steelers adding another tight end to the mix. As the roster currently stands, the Steelers are locked in on their top two tight ends for 2023. The first one being Pat Freiermuth, an ascending talent who is poised to position himself among the league's best by the end of next season. Second is Zach Gentry, who the Steelers just signed to a new contract this offseason. Gentry is the best blocking tight end on the roster, but brings little to the table in terms of pass-catching.
In the hypothetical scenario where Heyward essentially replaces the roster spot of Watt, the team now has the ability to add another playmaking tight end to the team. With an especially deep group of tight end prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft class, this would be an ideal scenario for Omar Khan. The Steelers will most likely avoid taking a tight end with either of their first two picks, but things could get interesting if a player such as Dalton Kincaid from the University of Utah or Darnell Washington from the University of Georgia falls to the Steelers at pick #49 in the second-round. A few other names to keep in mind are Luke Schoonmaker from the University of Michigan and Zack Kuntz from Old Dominion University.
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Darnell Washington hurdling an Oregon defender in 2022 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Final Thoughts
The idea of adding a big play tight end to pair alongside Pat Freiermuth is a dream scenario for the Steelers' offense. This would create matchup nightmares for opposing defenses and would lessen the need for the team to spend a high draft pick on a wide receiver. While losing Derek Watt is tough, Connor Heyward is more than capable of stepping up and filling in. Even if the Steelers do decide to re-sign Watt, do not be surprised if the team still selects a tight end in the 2023 NFL Draft.
What are your thoughts on Connor Heyward serving as the fullback in 2023? Do you think he is capable of doing so? What tight end prospects do you have your eye on as we draw closer to the 2023 NFL Draft? Let us know in the comments!
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