Cardinals draft TE Pat Freiermuth in Muench’s 2nd-round mock
Apr 30, 2021, 11:06 AM | Updated: 11:38 am
Pat Freiermuth #87 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after catching a 2 yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes on September 29, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
ESPN’s Steve Muench believes the Arizona Cardinals will draft an offensive weapon for quarterback Kyler Murray as the NFL Draft continues on Friday.
The Cardinals hold the 49th overall pick and Muench sees the Cardinals selecting 6-foot-5 tight end Pat Freiermuth from Penn State.
A Cardinals tight end hasn’t eclipsed 500 receiving yards in a single season since Freddie Jones in 2003; meanwhile, Dan Arnold signed with Carolina. Freiermuth is a two-time team captain at Penn State, and a big target who flashes as a route runner. His ability to move around the formation helps create favorable matchups.
Freiermuth would add depth to the Cardinals tight end position and would join the likes of Maxx Williams and Darrell Daniels.
The Penn State tight end would fill an immediate void as the Cardinals third tight end and could compete for the starting role.
RELATED STORIES
Dan Arnold, who led all Cardinals tight ends with 438 receiving yards last season, signed a two-year, $6 million contract with the Carolina Panthers during free agency.
If Arizona decides to go with the 6-foot-5 Freiermuth, he would become the highest drafted tight end for the Cardinals since 2014 when the franchise selected Troy Niklas with the 52nd overall pick.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein describes the Penn State tight end as a “big, athletic tight end with the potential to be a combo player at the position, helping as a run blocker and pass catcher.”
Freiermuth spent three years with the Nittany Lions and finished his career with 92 receptions, 1,185 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns.
The Penn State tight end had his best year statistically as a sophomore, racking up 43 receptions for 507 receiving yards and finishing with seven touchdowns.
In 2019, Freiermuth ended the year as Penn State’s Most Valuable Offensive Player and was named to the second-team All-Big Ten.
Freiermuth’s junior year was cut short after just four games.
He sustained a shoulder injury against Ohio State that required surgery and had to miss the rest of the season.
