Steelers Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith Gets Put On Notice For 2024 Tight End Strategy

The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't had a threatening offense since 2020, when Ben Roethlisberger led the black and gold to an 11-0 start. Matt Canada calling the shots on offense combined with the multiple experiments at quarterback led to the Steelers never getting back on track when it comes to scoring points. For these reasons, and many more, Pittsburgh decided to bring in Arthur Smith as the franchise's offensive coordinator before the 2024 season. Smith's arrival brought hope to the Steel City, but his previous reputation for getting the best out of his tight ends never showed last season in Pittsburgh.

Last summer, during the 2024 NFL offseason, Steelers fans were under the assumption that Smith's play-calling would lead to a breakout season for Pittsburgh's tight ends. 

More specifically, Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington should have had huge improvements. While Freiermuth caught a career-high of 65 receptions and tied a career-best of seven touchdown catches, Freiermuth still received the third-fewest targets in a season out of four years. 

Brian Batko, a Steelers reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, recently wrote about how Smith failed to use the tight ends to their best abilities in 2024. Batko detailed how the tight ends' seasons played out last year, and how it could get better in 2025. 

"Perhaps now is the time to streamline the tight end usage for Freiermuth and Washington, the latter of whom had just six targets and three receptions starting in December," Batko wrote. "If Freiermuth is more receiver than tight end, Washington has been more lineman than anything, locking onto edge defenders and the occasional Eagles cornerback to escort them from Point A to Point B. But Washington has yet to develop into a consistent Plan B in the passing game despite his humongous soft hands and monstrous power forward body." 

From year one to his second, Washington went from catching seven passes on 10 targets for 61 yards, to 200 yards off of 19 catches and 25 targets. Combined, the two tight ends scored eight touchdowns last season, but totaled less than 900 receiving yards. There is "a lot of meat left on the bones" of Freiermuth and Washington, as Mike Tomlin would say. 

The offense, and entire franchise as a whole, needs Smith to lead the tight ends to big 2025 seasons. Regardless of who lines up under center as the team's quarterback next season, whether that's Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, or a rookie, the offense won't be threat until Freiermuth and Washington reach their full potential. 

Freiermuth has some of the best route running and hands in the NFL as a tight end, and Washington's athletic ability and size is undeniable. The Steelers' front office needs to make this a priority for Smith and Tomlin. 

Steelers' Tight End Room Gets New "Big" Addition In 2025

Smith has an opportunity to even create a dangerous three-way threat at the tight end position this season. Earlier this offseason, the Steelers added tight end Darnold Parham Jr. to the offense. The 27-year-old tight end enters at six-foot-eight, nearly 240 pounds. Parham spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the Los Angeles Chargers, catching 11 career touchdowns on 67 receptions. 

How do you think Smith will use the tight end group in 2025? Will they make big improvements, or will it remain the same as it's looked for the past few seasons? Are the tight ends the key to unlocking the offense? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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