Is Tight End a Position of Concern for the Steelers in 2026?

In the 2025 NFL season, the Pittsburgh Steelers ran an offense that heavily relied on motions, fast offensive linemen who could jump to the second level, and multiple tight end or running back sets. While this offense has undergone changes due to the departure of former Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and head coach Mike Tomlin, the tight end room in Pittsburgh has also undergone drastic changes. Jonnu Smith, who was brought over in a trade with the Miami Dolphins, which also sent Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Dolphins and Jalen Ramsey to the Steelers, served as the third tight end for Pittsburgh during the 2025 season. He recorded 38 receptions for 222 yards and two receiving touchdowns, while also adding 70 yards and one touchdown on the ground. A major falloff from his Pro Bowl season a year prior led to his release from the Steelers. This would not be the only tight end Pittsburgh would lose during the 2026 NFL free agency, as free agent TE/FB Connor Heyward went to the Raiders, as they plan to utilize him in a more traditional fullback role. This leaves Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth as the only tight ends currently on the Steelers roster. The six-foot-seven, 311-pound Washington suffered a broken forearm in a 13-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 17, ending his season, while Freiermuth had his worst year statistically, excluding the 2023 season, where he only played 12 games due to injury. The Steelers brought in Super Bowl-winning coach Mike McCarthy to captain their ship moving forward and bring in a new offensive presence.

McCarthy worked with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay for more than a decade, running an 11-personnel offense led primarily by one tight end; an offense that would lead Rodgers to record the best touchdown-interception ratio year in and year out, as well as two MVPs. While this offense fits well with the current tight end room the Steelers have, it would be a mistake by Pittsburgh to not bring in a third target for whoever the Steelers quarterback may be. While veteran tight end David Njoku remains a free agent, Steelers beat writer Noah Strackbein believes a reunion with Smith could be the best move for Pittsburgh. The former Pro Bowl tight end has an estimated market value of $7.3 million, which may be higher than the Steelers or many other teams would be willing to pay him. Strackbein believes that if the Steelers could bring Smith back on a one-year contract worth between three and five million, he would serve as the final piece of Pittsburgh’s tight end room. Smith also remains in close contact with the former Georgia tight end in Washington. Smith appeared on a podcast with Jordan Schultz, where he claimed that Washington was in a “league of its own” and that he “comes in, works hard, listens, and is very coachable.” While Washington’s size and mobility were a concern for him coming out of Georgia, his evolution into a hybrid TE/OT has been a game-changer for Pittsburgh. 

In terms of Freiermuth’s production, the former Penn State tight end has been a true cornerstone of Pittsburgh’s offense since he was drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Despite having a new quarterback throwing him passes each season, Freiermuth has stayed consistent, powerful, and a true playmaker for this team. It is no surprise that Pro Football Focus’ John Kosko believes Freiermuth is the Steelers' biggest trade asset ahead of the 2026 season. Kosko believes that he is a “reliable, every-down type of tight end.” While also mentioning Pittsburgh’s gaping hole in their offensive line, especially along the left side, as starters for left tackle and left guard are still unknown. The offensive line is an issue, but so is the shrinking tight end room, and if the Steelers traded Muth without a guarantee that they could land a top tight end in the draft, such as Kenyon Sadiq or Eli Stowers, they would be leaving the tight end room simply for Washington to lead. As mentioned above by Jonnu Smith, Washington is one of a kind, but to expect a player who is six-foot-seven and heavier than 300 pounds to run consistent 11 personnel routes such as posts, streaks, or drags is practically impossible. Now that Arthur Smith is gone, and his obsessive use of Jonnu Smith goes with him, the Steelers' dual-threat playmakers of Muth and Washington should have no issue running McCarthy’s offense, regardless of who the third tight end is.