Kevin Colbert doubled down on the offense with the Steelers' second round pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.
After selecting running back Najee Harris in the first round Thursday, the Steelers selected Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth with the 55th overall pick in the second round.
With the 55th pick in the #NFLDraft, we select TE Pat Freiermuth. #SteelersDraft pic.twitter.com/5Nc5WC6JGR
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 1, 2021
Freiermuth finished his junior season in 2020 with the most receiving touchdowns (16) by a tight end in the history of the Nittany Lions. His 1,185 career receiving yards is the third most of any tight end in the history of the program.
He only played four games in his 2020 season due to a shoulder injury that made him miss the rest of the season, but still led the Big Ten's tight ends with 310 receiving yards, and became the first Nittany Lion to win the Kwalick-Clark Big Ten Tight End of the Year Award.
In first press conference after being drafted, Freiermuth said his injured shoulder was 'fully healthy' weeks ago, and that he was ready to play at full strength.
Freiermuth's selection at the 55th pick made him the second tight end picked in the 2021 NFL Draft, behind only Florida's Kyle Pitts who was picked fourth overall by the Falcons.
The addition to the Steelers immediately boosts a tight end room that was lacking in experience behind starter Eric Ebron. Now with Freiermuth, the Steelers will have two athletic receiving tight ends for Ben Roethlisberger to target in 2021, which was something that excited Freiermuth after watching the Steelers' franchise quarterback for years.
"When I saw that 412 area code, I thought it was my friends pranking me," Freiermuth said. "Growing up, I've obviously seen (Roethlisberger) play. It's kind of weird that he's going to be my quarterback now and I can't wait to go out there and catch footballs from him, make plays and it's going to be an unreal experience."