Steelers' Pat Freiermuth Optimistic About His New Contracts Being Done Soon

Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan has been called "cold and calculating" because of his handling of contract negotiations with players. Khan is in his third season in that role after being promoted when Kevin Colbert retired, and while fans expected business as usual, that's not what they got. 

Khan appears to be more focused on the big picture. You can almost see him playing chess in his head as he makes moves during the offseason. He surprised many by making the franchise's largest free agency signing in history when they brought on linebacker Patrick Queen. What he hasn't done however, is also raising some eyebrows. 

The team declined the fifth-year option on running back Najee Harris and has yet to work out an extension deal with tight end Pat Freiermuth or defensive tackle Cameron Heyward. While there are ways to explain why not to extend Harris or Heyward before the season, it would be hard to understand not working a deal out with Freiermuth. 

Entering his fourth season in Pittsburgh, Freiermuth was a second-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Penn State. During his time in Pittsburgh, he solidified himself as a solid receiver. With the offense being overhauled by tight end-loving Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, it seems as though retaining Freiermuth is in the team's best interests. It is certainly what he is hoping for, as he recently shared on teammate Christian Kuntz's show, The Christian Kuntz Podcast. 

Freiermuth was asked about working with Travis Kelce on Tight End University and how he feels about the tight end salaries starting to increase into that top tier that wide receivers are making. Kelce certainly did his part to help boost tight end contracts, signing a two-year extension worth more than $17 million a year. That's a big leap from the almost $1.5 Freiermuth will make in 2024 as of now. 

"It feels great," said Freiermuth. "Tight End U is a great experience. I think Kelce, (George) Kittle, and (Greg) Olsen do a great job setting that up. It's a great group of guys, and I'm obviously very excited they've gotten paid a little more, and hopefully, in the next coming weeks, I will before Week 1."

Thanks to the type of offense that Smith runs, it seems like a no-brainer for the team to do all they can to keep Freiermuth. While he isn't Kelce or George Kittle, he has been a productive, albeit somewhat inconsistent, member of the offense. Like with many of the offensive weapons in the Steel City, it is hard to gauge who is to blame for the struggles. 

It is true that Freiermuth has an injury history, particularly concussions, but it is also true that he was playing with one of the worst offenses in the league for a time. The offensive line struggled to block, the coordinator seemed to forget he was on the roster, and the quarterbacks, other than Ben Roethlisberger, have been inconsistent. 

Now, under Smith, Freiermuth has a chance to really shine. It seems unlikely that Khan will allow this to drag on into the regular season. The Steelers have always maintained a policy of not tending to contract negotiations during the regular season. A solid pass catcher like Freiermuth is hard to find. If they allow Freiermuth to become a free agent at the end of the 2024 season, they could lose him to another team.  

Steelers' Najee Harris' Future Uncertain

Harris is another productive member of the offense who now has to prove his worth in 2024. After the Steelers declined his fifth-year option, Harris explained to the media that he was told it was because they were unsure of where Smith's offense was headed. They want to evaluate how he fits into it before offering him a new contract. 

This means the former Alabama standout will be a free agent at the end of the season. Unsurprisingly, he had his best season in his rookie year with Roethlisberger. However, even with the merry-go-round of quarterbacks dressed in black and gold, he has managed to run for more than 1,000 yards each season he has been in the league. He was also the Steelers' leading scorer in 2022 and 2023. 

What do you think the Steelers should do with Freiermuth's contract? Click to comment below. 

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