Steelers Trading A Fan Favorite Could Happen Soon After Struggles

The Pittsburgh Steelers finally executed the offensive gameplan that they have been trying to utilize in their Week 4 win. The running game was great, and it helped set up some open passing lanes for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, as he used his football IQ to take advantage of the Minnesota Vikings selling out to stop the run with audibles to get some quick hitters to the outside. Now that they have a 3-1 record and the rest of the division is falling apart, Pittsburgh has full control of the division. 

However, the Steelers previously made it very clear that they are still in the pick business, so General Manager Omar Khan may still be willing to shop a couple pieces to help them build for the future. After their win in Dublin against the Vikings, one name started circling the rumor mill after his lack of usage in the offense: tight end Pat Freiermuth. 

Freiermuth saw his snap count diminish hard, as he only recorded 15 snaps during the game. He saw zero targets after only catching one ball on three targets in Week 3. Despite the extension he recently received, the Steelers are clearly phasing him out of the offense in favor of guys like Darnell Washington. Pittsburgh is undefeated when "Mount" Washington plays at least 40 snaps on offense, and that includes Week 4. 

The reasoning is very simple: Freiermuth has never been a quality blocking tight end. He is a pure receiving threat. The problem with that, however, is that the Steelers don't utilize the middle of the field consistently. The fifth-year tight end is still a quality threat in the passing game, but he does not have a great fit in the offense currently in Pittsburgh.

With Freiermuth practically benched in Week 4, the Steelers had 26 carries for 123 yards and two touchdowns off of designed run plays, even with starting running back Jaylen Warren out. This is a huge improvement from the team's inability to establish the ground game in the first three weeks, and the change at tight end clearly had an effect, as well as going with a jumbo set with a sixth offensive lineman. Guard Spencer Anderson and backup tight end Connor Heyward were huge beneficiaries of the newly implemented game plan.

Steelers' Details Of Potential Trade Negotiations

Even though Freiermuth is only in the first year of his four-year extension, the salary cap will not be a concern for the Steelers, nor whoever they hypothetically ship him off to. The only guarantees that Freiermuth has left are roster bonuses for future years. The only dead cap that Pittsburgh would have to eat is the rest of the signing bonus proration, while the other team would not have any dead cap to deal with if they eventually want to cut him. 

Without the signing bonus proration to deal with, whoever would acquire Freiermuth would inherit a three-year deal worth about $27.5 million. For a player as talented and as humble as he is, that is a great deal. There are teams out there that would take the opportunity to utilize him properly and let him showcase his immense talent as a receiver. If the Steelers do shop him, there would likely be teams lining up to give him a shot.

The San Francisco 49ers could certainly use some depth at the tight end position with George Kittle dealing with an injury. Freiermuth could be the receiver over the middle that they need to help Kittle out. The Los Angeles Chargers also need a bona fide TE1 to help out in the passing game, so he could be used there as well. There are other teams out there that would love some help with the middle of the field.

What do you think about the Steelers potentially trading away Freiermuth? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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