For the last three years, the Pittsburgh Steelers have selected a tight end in the first round. They are still all three listed on the roster. However, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Steelers recruited veteran MyCole Pruitt, a tight end who is well-known to new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
According to a source, tight end MyCole Pruitt has reached an agreement with the Steelers, according to Fowler. “Reconnected with Arthur Smith, whom they knew in Atlanta and Tennessee.”
In 2018, Smith served as Pruitt’s tight ends coach for the Tennessee Titans for the first time. Then, from 2019 to 2020, he served as Pruitt’s offensive coordinator in Tennessee.
It has been a while since Pittsburgh has taken advantage of a tight end in free agency. In recent years, the Steelers have instead looked to the draft to find depth at tight end. Pat Freiermuth was selected in 2021, Connor Heyward in the 2022 draft, and Darnell Washington in the previous year.
Pruitt is the tight end room’s most seasoned player when he gets to Pittsburgh.
Pruitt joined the Minnesota Vikings as a fifth-round selection in the 2015 NFL Draft. Before the Vikings dismissed him in November 2016, he played his first 1.5 seasons in Minnesota.
Pruitt was later released by the Vikings following a period of time spent on the practice squad. 2016 saw him play his final games for the Chicago Bears. He was a member of the Houston Texans in 2017.
Pruitt had 12 receptions for 102 yards during his first three seasons.
In his debut season under Smith’s guidance, Pruitt came very close to matching those totals. He had 9 receptions for 102 yards and 1 score in 2018.
Pruitt has never finished a season with more than 150 receiving yards, not even in Smith’s offense. He is, nevertheless, a reliable blocker and sporadic red zone target. During the previous three seasons, Pruitt had 39 catches, 8 of which resulted in touchdowns.
As a blocker, Pruitt excels at providing solid pass protection. Over the last three years, he has received a pass blocking grade at Pro Football Focus of at least 62 (out of 100).
Pruitt has been useful on special teams as well. Since 2018, he has averaging 122 special teams snaps each season.
The Steelers now have five tight ends on their 90-man roster as a result of Pruitt’s presence. Apart from Heyward, Washington, and Freiermuth, the Steelers also have Rodney Williams, a 2023 undrafted free agent, under contract.
Williams played 55 offensive snaps in the previous season without a target. On 189 special teams snaps, he made a total of 6 stops.
Throughout the 2023 season, Freiermuth topped the Steelers in every receiving category. However, his 308 yards and two scores came from just 32 receptions. Five games were missed by Freiermuth due to various injuries, one of which was a serious hamstring strain.
Despite Freiermuth losing time, Heyward and Washington did not play a significant role in Pittsburgh’s offensive either. Washington recorded 61 receiving yards, compared to Heyward’s 167.
But under Smith, there should be a significant shift in the extent to which the Steelers use their tight ends.
Two of the top three pass catchers for the Falcons last season were tight ends, with Smith calling plays. Tight end Kyle Pitts led the Falcons with 68 catches and 1,026 receiving yards during Smith’s rookie campaign in Atlanta.
Although Pruitt’s spot on Pittsburgh’s roster isn’t assured, he ought to be able to assist the other Steelers tight ends in understanding Smith’s playbook.
