Carolina Panthers draft: Is Pat Freiermuth the long-term answer at TE?
By Dean Jones
Pat Freiermuth scouting report
If the Carolina Panthers are looking for a high-impact tight end that could solidify the position long-term, the they would do far worse than look in Pat Freiermuth’s direction. The prospect looks to be the complete package and even has the scope to be an immediate contributor for whatever team he ends up on.
Kyle Pitts might be a generational talent that could go in the top-10, but Freiermuth is your more stereotypical tight end that can assist in the passing game as well as block extremely well. This might be a dying breed in today’s NFL but it’s sure to boost his stock considerably.
Freiermuth has a rare blend of size, athleticism, and assured hands that will make him a nightmare to cover at the next level. He notched 16 touchdowns in 29 games for the Nittany Lions to go along with 92 receptions, 1,185 receiving yards, and a yards-per-catch average of 12.9.
Another big impact that shouldn’t be overlooked is Freiermuth’s physicality. He has no trouble mixing it in pass protection or even contesting catches, which is yet another string to the prospect’s bow.
There is no disputing the fact that Freiermuth comes with a tremendous amount of upside. The bigger question would be whether or not the Panthers want to use their second-rounder on a position they strengthened in free agency.