After the Steelers’ trade for Jonnu Smith, it’s beyond clear that the team’s tight end group will be a significant factor in the Pittsburgh offense. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith kept four on the team’s roster last year, and it’s expected he'll do the same in 2025.

Which tight ends will make Pittsburgh’s final roster?

The following tight end/fullbacks are on the Steelers’ current 90-man roster:

Pat Freiermuth
Jonnu Smith
Darnell Washington
Connor Heyward
J.J. Galbreath
D.J. Thomas-Jones

The first three names are all locks for the final 53. Freiermuth and Smith will be two of the Steelers’ top targets in the passing game. Washington should remain a valuable role player given his blocking ability.

But if the Steelers keep four tight ends, who will fill the final spot?

Galbreath, an undrafted free agent out of South Dakota, is an athletic “move” tight end who’s a bit on the lighter side at 231 pounds. He’s a strong practice squad candidate who could possibly get called up to the roster if there’s an injury ahead of him on the depth chart, but his current skill set is a bit redundant with two quality receiving tight ends already on the team.

Unless Galbreath is far and away the best option in camp, I think this battle will mainly be between two tight end/fullback hybrids in Connor Heyward, who’s held down a roster spot since he was drafted, and D.J. Thomas-Jones, another 2025 UDFA.

Heyward, at this point, is a known commodity. He hasn’t especially stood out as a blocker but is a capable pass-catcher when called upon. He’s also become a core special-teamer for the Steelers.

Thomas-Jones is more of a question mark. He’s bigger than Heyward was coming out of college, but both have the shorter build that’s determined their fullback hybrid position in the pros. Thomas-Jones was an above-average blocker in an H-back role in college, but the defenders he’ll be going up against in the NFL will be tier above those he faced at South Alabama.

Thomas-Jones is also a fluid athlete in the passing game, and the Steelers handed him the biggest signing bonus (non-quarterback) for a UDFA in team history this offseason. If Thomas-Jones can establish a role for himself on special teams, I think there’s a good chance he’ll be the Steelers’ TE4 in the upcoming season.

While Jonnu Smith has been used as an H-back/fullback type in the past, he’s leagues better as a receiver than a blocker. Someone like Thomas-Jones could be rostered to do the dirty work in the run game when needed.

The South Alabama product has some interesting tools, and the younger Heyward just hasn’t done enough to establish himself as a clear 53-man roster lock over his three years in the NFL.

It’s far from a guarantee, though; TE4 should be an entertaining camp battle come July 24.

For a review of the team’s UDFA class, check out my April article breaking down each player here.

How many tight ends will the Steelers roster in 2025? And who will they be? Join the BTSC community and let us know in the comments.