The Pittsburgh Steelers have 12 draft picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, which could allow GM Omar Khan to wheel and deal throughout the three days in Pittsburgh.
Khan could move up the board to land a player he covets, or he could trade down to gain some 2027 NFL Draft picks in the process, too. Regardless of what path he chooses, one thing is clear: Khan has options to trade from.
For Pro Football Focus though, his best trade asset isn’t the amount of draft picks he has. It happens to be one player on his roster.
That would be Pat Freiermuth. In a piece highlighting the best trade asset for each team, PFF tabbed the veteran TE as the piece with the best value for the Steelers.
“The Steelers have a reliable, every-down tight end in Pat Freiermuth, but more pressing needs along the offensive line as they try to remain competitive,” PFF’s John Kosko writes. “Freiermuth earned a 67.4 PFF overall grade and a 68.5 PFF receiving grade in 2025, providing steady production as both a blocker and pass catcher on a team-friendly contract.His well-rounded skill set makes him an appealing option for teams in need of a tight end.
“Trading Freiermuth could allow Pittsburgh to recoup draft capital to address the left side of the offensive line or add help at linebacker.”
Freiermuth is coming off a disappointing season in which he wasn’t utilized much in the passing game under former offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. He lost snaps to Jonnu Smith in the process, too, leading to some frustration that Freiermuth expressed after the season.
Both Smiths are gone now, and new head coach Mike McCarthy and offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio bring plenty of experience working with pass-catching tight ends and getting them involved in the passing game, so the future looks bright for Freiermuth.
Trading him just doesn’t seem like something the Steelers would do, especially with their TE room looking a bit thin after cutting Smith and losing Connor Heyward to Las Vegas in free agency.
You can never say never though. If a team came calling and offered something Khan couldn’t turn down, the Steelers could move Freiermuth to help plug holes elsewhere. Darnell Washington remains TE1 in Pittsburgh, and the draft is very deep and talented at the position this year, so a replacement could be found.
It just seems very unlikely that the Steelers would even consider trading Freiermuth though. He’s poised for a significant bounce-back season in 2026 with a new coaching staff in place. He’s highly respected in the locker room, too, and revered as a leader offensively.
That’s the type of guy you keep around, regardless of what his trade value might be perceived to be.
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