Pittsburgh Steelers' Pat Freiermuth Offers Perspective On How Kenny Pickett "Just Wants To Win"

The hype surrounding Pittsburgh Steelers' second-year quarterback, Kenny Pickett, has been one of the most widely discussed subjects of discussions for fans in the 2023 offseason. After nearly leading the team to the playoffs in 2022 following an abysmal first half of the regular season, the hype may be well deserved as the former Pittsburgh Panthers' standout is poised to emerge himself as an elite-level quarterback in 2023. While Pickett has proven he has the necessary athletic ability and arm talent to succeed at the professional level, perhaps the most impressive aspects of his game are his leadership and ability to remain calm when the game is on the line. 

From the moment Pickett took command of the team's offense in 2022, it was clearly evident that he had taken all the necessary steps to prove he was capable of gaining the respect of his fellow teammates as well as the coaching staff. Perhaps one of his biggest advocates is third-year tight end, Pat Freiermuth. During a recent episode of Barstool Sports, Pardon My Take, Freiermuth detailed how Pickett came up big in critical moments during this past season and is doing all the right things to play even better in 2023. 

"He's clutch. He never wavered in any type of situation. He's even-keeled throughout the whole game. In two-minute situations, he just wants to win. He has that winning gene. Even in OTAs, he's still trying to compete to win," Freiermuth said. 

Pickett's calmness under pressure was on full display during his rookie campaign, as he led the team to fourth-quarter comeback wins against the Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens in weeks 16 and 17. His cool demeanor in the face of adversity is something that many young quarterbacks do not have. While his stats from his first NFL season are far from earth-shattering, the Steelers feel confident that Pickett is the long-term answer at signal-caller. With a much improved offensive line and an abundance of talent at pass catcher, the 2022 first-round pick is in a prime position to help take the team back to the playoffs in 2023. 

Connection Between Steelers Pickett And Freiermuth May Pay Huge Dividends For Team In 2023

Freiermuth was one of Pickett's top targets this past season, finishing second on the team in receptions and third in receiving yards. The former Penn State star always seemed to come up in critical moments and will likely serve as a security blanket for the sophomore signal-caller in 2023. While much of the conversation during the 2023 offseason has been centered around new pass catchers such as Allen Robinson, Darnell Washington, and 2022 fourth-round pick, Calvin Austin III, it may end up being Freiermuth who takes the biggest leap in 2023. 

With Washington and Zach Gentry likely being responsible for a lion's share of the blocking from the tight end group in 2023, it is entirely possible that Freiermuth becomes one of the most featured components of the passing attack in 2023. His ability to make contested catches in addition to his stellar route running make him one of the most reliable players on the entire offensive unit. 

During the same interview, Freiermuth talked about how he hopes to improve his ability to release off the line of scrimmage, similar to that of All Pro players, George Kittle and Travis Kelce. If he is able to do so, he may be well on his way to establishing himself as a Pro Bowl-level tight end. Get ready, Steeler Nation. The regular season will be here before you know it!

Thoughts, Steeler Nation? 

Do you believe Pickett has what it takes to dramatically improve the offense? How excited are you to watch the Pickett to Freiermuth connection in 2023? What are your stat predictions for the third-year tight end? Let us know in the comments! 

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