Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith pulls in a catch over Juan Thornhill on July 31, 2025, at Saint Vincent College.

In concept, the Steelers have spoken it into making sense.

Sure, there was no outside addition to replace George Pickens at the wide receiver position. But the collection of tight ends on the roster -- Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward -- can make up for that.

It sounds like it could make sense. The Chiefs (Travis Kelce), 49ers (George Kittle), Cardinals (Trey McBride), and Raiders (Brock Bowers) all had tight ends lead them in receiving yards.

The only problem is that just one of those teams made the playoffs last year.

The Ravens used tight ends Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews (97 catches, 1,150 yards, 17 touchdowns) a ton. But Rashod Bateman (16.8 yards per catch, nine touchdowns, 756 yards) also emerged as a more consistent No. 2 receiver with Zay Flowers.

With a Hall of Fame quarterback in Tom Brady, the 2011 Patriots got 169 catches, 24 touchdowns and 2,237 yards out of Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski. The Steelers have one of those guys now in Aaron Rodgers, though not at the height of his game like Brady was back then.

But if you look hard enough at the array of dots, you can see the big picture.

Or maybe you just see an image of Terry McLaurin, Jakobi Meyers, Gabe Davis or any of the other wide receivers the Steelers have been linked to in recent months.

At this point, however, that's what the Steelers' passing attack will look like in 2025. A ton of targets for DK Metcalf and the tight ends, plus whatever Rodgers can get out of Calvin Austin, Roman Wilson and Scotty Miller.

Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith insists it can work.

"You use what you've got. Adapt to your circumstances where your strengths are. Those guys have unique skill sets," Smith said during a conversation at training camp. "It gives us a lot of flexibility. We've got smart players. When you get a group like this, as you're working things, you're teaching concepts. We can move guys wherever, and they've done a good job."

Freiermuth echoed that description about the nuances between himself and Jonnu Smith, and talked about how they can mesh with one another.

"He's a very explosive guy with the ball in his hands," Freiermuth said of Smith. "I think I'm a good choice-route runner who can see the field in zone. I think he's an explosive playmaker. I think you can combine those together, especially when we're both on the field, it's going to be a helluva combination."

And then there is Washington, who blocks like a tackle but is emerging as a pass catcher, as was evident in his touchdown reception from Mason Rudolph in the preseason opener at Jacksonville.

"I feel like I've improved in that area. I feel like that was the biggest question. Coming out of college, everybody was like, 'He's a blocking tight end.' But I never really had a chance to showcase my pass catching," Washington said at Saint Vincent College.

Along with whatever Heyward can offer in an H-back role, there certainly is diversity in what those players can present for Rodgers. During his days in Green Bay and New York, Rodgers has frequently had quality tight ends, but not necessarily a Kelce/Kittle type, or an offense that is as tight end-heavy as this one when it comes to a receiving portfolio.

That doesn't appear to be a concern within the tight end room.

"He's so adaptable and adjustable. This guy has seen everything there is to see. I'm going to pick his brain and build that chemistry," Jonnu Smith said. "The arm still works. The IQ has always been at an elite level. We've just got to do our part."

For his part, Rodgers sees the value in the tight end focus of the offense.

"We always valued the tight end in Green Bay. We kept four many times over the years. These guys, the top four, all can do different things," Rodgers said upon his arrival in Latrobe. "The tight end position, like the fullback position, has been undervalued the last few years. Being able to go 1-2 personnel can be an advantage with so many teams going nickel to 1-2 these days. If you've got guys who block and run routes, you've got an advantage there."

To a degree, the conversations about tight end depth with the Steelers and their lack of depth at wide receiver have been blended together. They probably shouldn't be. Absent from the analysis so far has been the "what if" factor when it comes to health.

The role of either Smith or Freiermuth will become very different if Washington gets hurt. One of those two guys has to be able to be the primary blocker at the position.

And if Metcalf should get injured, there isn't a tight end in the league who can replicate the things he can do. We saw a similar problem last year when Pickens missed three games.

That said, underscoring Arthur Smith's earlier point, this is what the Steelers have. Until the trade deadline on Nov. 4, that could change.

If it doesn't, it's up to Smith, Rodgers and those "top 4" tight ends to make it work.