It was a quiet moment during a June OTA practice, and Pat Freiermuth stood near the sideline with his helmet off, watching a young quarterback go through his progressions. The throw was crisp. The route was timed perfectly. The kind of play that brings a smile to a tight end's face.
For Freiermuth, who is entering his sixth season with Pittsburgh, the early impressions of rookie quarterback Drew Allar have been encouraging. The veteran tight end has not held back about his enthusiasm.
"I've just seen his growth as a football player," Freiermuth said this week. "I'm just super proud of him and just can't say enough good things about it."
Those are notable words for a third-round draft pick who has been with the team for just over a month. But the 6-foot-5 Penn State product is not your typical rookie. Once projected as a first-round talent in college, Allar slipped to the third round, where the Steelers picked him at No. 76 overall, believing his raw skills could be refined into something special.
Early indications from offseason training suggest that progression is well underway.
Freiermuth, who recorded 41 receptions for 486 yards and four touchdowns during the 2025 season, has been one of Allar's primary targets during spring practices. Their developing chemistry has become a key focus in Pittsburgh's passing game installation under head coach Mike McCarthy.
The veteran tight end sees a young player absorbing the playbook quickly.
"I think me and Darnell play really well off each other," Freiermuth said, referencing tight end Darnell Washington, who contributed 31 receptions for 364 yards last season. "His strong suit picks up for me what I kind of lack in and vice versa. I'm just excited to keep working with him."
Freiermuth's reference to "him" includes both Washington and Allar. Tight end is shaping up as a position of strength for the Steelers, whose depth includes Freiermuth, Washington, and veteran Robert Tonyan. Tonyan, who caught one pass last season with Kansas City, brings valuable experience. Adding to that mix is sixth-round rookie Riley Nowakowski from Indiana, giving Pittsburgh versatility and depth at the position.
That position depth is especially important for a young quarterback learning NFL defenses. For a rookie, having tight ends who can create separation on short routes is invaluable. Freiermuth, known for his dependable hands and knack for finding soft spots in zone coverage, fits that role perfectly.
"I take a division title in a home playoff game over some stats that people look back on," Freiermuth said, emphasizing a mindset that prioritizes team success over individual numbers--a philosophy aligned with the culture McCarthy is cultivating.
McCarthy himself has voiced optimism about the rookies' adjustment to the offense. "I've been really impressed with the way they've come in and picked it up in the blind and tried to learn from the veteran players," the head coach said in late May. This assessment applies directly to Allar, who is learning behind a veteran quarterback group that includes Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph.
Rodgers, coming off a 2025 season in which he threw for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns, remains the clear starter. However, the long-term picture in Pittsburgh is uncertain. Rodgers, now 42, is in the twilight of his career, while Rudolph is viewed as a capable backup but not the franchise quarterback of the future. The Steelers' selection of Allar in the third round suggests the front office is planning ahead.
Allar is not expected to start games this season, a luxury that allows him to develop without pressure. McCarthy's offensive system is known for being quarterback-friendly and structured, which should aid in Allar's transition.
Freiermuth's early endorsement carries weight because he has navigated multiple quarterback transitions in his career--from Ben Roethlisberger to Kenny Pickett, then Mason Rudolph and now Rodgers. He understands what it takes to play with a dependable quarterback.
"I see the opportunity for that to be possible," Freiermuth said when discussing the offense's potential ceiling.
It is still early June; training camp kicks off in July, and the preseason starts in August. There is ample time before meaningful games are played. But early reports from Pittsburgh's voluntary workouts have been consistent: the rookie quarterback is ahead of schedule, tight ends are building chemistry, and the offense is taking shape under the new coaching staff.
For a team that claimed the division title in 2025, those developments matter.
The Steelers have bolstered their receiving corps, acquiring DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. through free agency and trade. Metcalf caught 59 passes for 850 yards and six touchdowns last season with Pittsburgh. Pittman joined from Indianapolis, where he recorded 80 receptions for 784 yards in 2025. The running game features Jaylen Warren, who rushed for 958 yards and six touchdowns last year, along with free-agent addition Rico Dowdle, who rushed for 1,076 yards with Carolina.
That wealth of talent provides any quarterback with numerous offensive weapons. For a rookie quarterback learning the ropes, it's an enviable environment.
Freiermuth has seen enough to understand that June optimism does not always translate into December success. Yet he knows when a young quarterback is starting to show command early, it means something important. The throws are on time. The reads are sharper than the week before. The growth is tangible.
"I've just seen his growth as a football player," Freiermuth repeated.
He said it with genuine conviction. Until training camp offers more decisive insights, that stands as a promising sign for the Steelers' 2026 offense.