Pat Freiermuth is a big tight end from Penn State University, who uses his body and big frame to box out defenders and make tough catches. He’s more of a receiver than a blocker but he’s a pretty refined receiver with good route running and technique, and he’ll be a solid receiving tight end in the NFL. 

Strengths: 

  • Great Size

Pat Freiermuth is 6’5 250 lbs so he certainly has plenty of size to play the tight end position in the NFL. He also uses his size very well as he can box out defenders and make tough catches because of it.

  • Solid Route Runner

Freiermuth is a very good route runner for a tight end. He varies his release and they are all pretty effective, and he’s good using his physicality at the top of routes. He also knows how to sit in open zones against zone coverage.

  • Catches Away From Frame

Pat Freiermuth may have drop issues but those are mainly due to concentration rather than ball skills. He still has great hands when he’s focused and can make tough catches away from his body.

  • Great Contested Catch Ability

Pat Freiermuth does a great job making contested catches in plays where there’s a lot of traffic. He high points the ball and holds onto the ball through heavy contact.

Weaknesses: 

  • Not Incredibly Quick

Pat Freiermuth isn’t a rock who’s super slow like some block tight ends are but he also isn’t the fastest guy in the world who uses sudden movements to beat people and sometimes it will limit how effective his route running is.

  • Drop Issues

Pat Freiermuth for the most part has sure hands but he struggled with concentration drops often dropping easy passes because he was looking for YAC before even catching the ball. This will have to get cleaned up.

  • Too Aggressive as a Blocker Sometimes

Aggressiveness is something that you like to see from a blocker but Freiermuth takes a bit overboard at times being so out of control that he’s taking bad angles and missing assignments.

Player Comp: I think Hunter Henry is a good comparison for Pat Freiermuth because both guys represent the stereotypical receiving tight end in the NFL. Both guys are exactly 6’5 250 lbs, and use their size to beat defenders. They aren’t overly quick but they’re not slow either. They have decent route running and are strong runners after catch, and they can make catches away from their body. As blockers they need to improve their technique a bit but they have the size and mindset to make it work. Both guys also have concentration drops at times. I love this comparison and I think that Freiermuth will be a similar caliber of player in the NFL.

Final Thoughts: Pat Freiermuth is a guy that some people have varying opinions on with most having him as a mid early Round 2 guy while some have him as a Round 3 guy. I’m in the first boat having him in that early to mid second round range which I’d say is a tiny bit higher than the overall consensus on Freiermuth. I think he offers good receiving ability with the potential to be turned into a solid blocker giving him decently high upside with a solid floor as well. The Bengals have needed a tight end for a while now so if they go offensive line in Round 1 and don’t see a receiver they like at the beginning of Round 2, Pat Freiermuth would be a decent pick to fill their hole at tight end.