Steelers 2-a-days: Pat Freiermuth becomes building block, Ulysees Gilbert coming off 'special' season

Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, the Trib will be running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2022 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in mostly alphabetical order, two per day, between June 11 and July 25. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

TE PAT FREIERMUTH

Experience: 2nd season

Contract status: $1.370 million cap hit in 2022, signed through 2024

2022 outlook: Freiermuth paid immediate dividends after the Steelers used their second-round pick on the former Penn State tight end. He set franchise rookie records at his position with 60 receptions and 497 yards, and his seven touchdowns tied Eric Green for most in team history by a rookie tight end.

Freiermuth’s 60 catches ranked fourth-most in Steelers history for rookies, regardless of position. He also ranked tied for 12th among all NFL tight ends in receptions, showing the value he brought to the position.

Freiermuth accomplished all of this despite beginning the season behind veteran Eric Ebron on the depth chart. Ebron lasted eight games before an injury ended his season, but by that time Freiermuth already had surpassed him as one of Ben Roethlisberger’s favorite targets.

In his second NFL season, Freiermuth is the clear starter as he looks to develop into one of the NFL’s elite tight ends.

Pat Freiermuth so far:
????2 catches
????2 TDs

New TE1 in Pittsburgh is making PLAYS ????pic.twitter.com/c0LvmsIR5t

— PFF (@PFF) August 22, 2021

LB ULYSEES GILBERT III

Experience: 4th season

Contract status: $996,960 cap hit in 2022, will be free agent in 2023

2022 outlook: Gilbert rebounded from two seasons cut short by back injuries to play in all 17 games for the Steelers last season.

Although Gilbert saw the field on just 36 defensive snaps, he developed into a core special teams player. Gilbert finished second to Derek Watt with 13 tackles on special teams, and was part of a play that helped the Steelers stun the Buffalo Bills in the season opener. After Miles Killebrew blocked a punt, Gilbert scooped up the ball and ran 9 yards for a touchdown that helped propel the Steelers to a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter en route to a 23-16 victory.

The former sixth-round pick from Akron is no lock, however, to make the 53-man roster, and his path to retaining a job revolves around his skills on special teams. The Steelers used a seventh-round pick on inside linebacker Mark Robinson this year, and they have 2021 draft pick Buddy Johnson returning for a second season.

Gilbert also needs to remain healthy. He finished his first two seasons on injured reserve.

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.