Leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft starting on April 29th, we will be releasing several draft profiles of prospects who could potentially see themselves on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Next up…
Tommy Tremble (Tight End), Notre Dame, Junior
OVERVIEW:
With the retirement of Vance McDonald and the lack of depth at the tight end position, there is no denying the Steelers are going to be looking to the draft to bolster the tight end room. In a draft where there is fairly little depth to offer, the Steelers are going to be forced to find a value pick in the middle to later rounds. Who do I see possibly available in the 4th round who would be a great compliment to Eric Ebron? Tommy Tremble out of South Bend, Indiana.
PROS:
At 6’4” and weighing 248 pounds, Tremble is a bruiser at the line. He is definitely a blocking tight end, as opposed to Kyle Pitts (Florida) or Brevin Jordan (Miami, FL) who are more route runners and pass catchers. Tremble isn’t afraid to take on defensive tackles at the line, then move to the second level against linebackers. He is able to explode off the line and blow defenders off their assignments. In the passing game, he is an effective safety blanket for the quarterback, moving laterally across the field on broken plays and providing an easy target for the passer. He possesses the ability to adjust to the ball in the air to make the catch and has strong hands to grab the ball out of the air and pull it into his body.
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CONS:
Because Tremble was used as more of a rotational and blocking tight end, his route running is suspect. In college, he was utilized more on running plays, and had limited exposure on passing downs. This is shown in how he only has 35 catches and 4 touchdowns in his collegiate career. With the tight end position becoming more of an extra receiver in the NFL, this may be a concern for coaches who are looking for that immediate starter in a pass-first offense.
DRAFT PROJECTION: Late 3rd round to early 4th
With Pitts, Pat Freiermuth, and Jordan presumably being the first tight ends selected, there is going to be a bit of a wait for Tremble. Especially with the significant depth at wide receiver, offensive line, and cornerback this year, this will cause the need for tight end to drift back into the middle to later rounds. I think the 3rd round is a safe assumption for Tremble, but don’t be surprised if he is still there in the 4th round.
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VERDICT:
As a common consensus, I think we can all agree the Steelers need a reliable blocking tight end to pair with Ebron’s catching skill set. That is exactly what Tremble brings to the table. His route running development will come with the help of good NFL coaches; it is something that can be taught. Size and reliability however, is something that can’t be coached. I think Tremble is a perfect fit for what the Steelers need in a tight end. With the current state of the depth chart and the alternative options in the draft and free agency, Tremble is the best solution available. If he falls to the Steelers’ fourth rounds picks (129 and 140 overall) that’d be a steal for Pittsburgh. In that scenario, I say grab him.
Where do you think Tremble will land in April? Let us know in the comments below!
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