CB Donte Jackson compares playing in Steelers defense to 'swimming with sharks'

The Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) have had one of the best defenses in the NFL through the first seven weeks of the season and it's thanks to their active free agency.

This offseason, the Steelers added free-agent linebacker Patrick Queen, cornerback Donte Jackson and safety DeShon Elliott, all of whom have made big impacts to begin the year.

Elliott (51) and Queen (47) have the most tackles of anyone else on the team while Jackson leads Pittsburgh with three interceptions.

Joining the Steelers already star-studded defense could be daunting to some, but Jackson credits their mentality for their early success.

"These guys always had a great defense," Jackson said. "Knowing that, you have to alter your mentality to come in and play. It's like swimming with sharks. I think that us new guys, we just kinda have that mentality."

The Steelers have always prided themselves on having a great defense, and maybe even more so, creating turnovers. Since 2019, no team has more takeaways than Pittsburgh (150). That's because it's something it emphasizes every day.

"It's definitely emphasized when we do turnover circuit every day. It's just the way of football around here to go after the ball," Jackson continued. "Just leaning into that has been important."

Jackson isn't the only one who's embracing the Steelers' takeaway mentality.

Queen knows the impact creating turnovers can have on games, too.

"Hunting the ball. They preach hunt the ball, and I think we just all rallying to the ball, trying to get to the ball. Create havoc," Queen said. "There's just so many more plays out there that we can create."

Unlike Jackson, Queen has yet to register his first takeaway in the black and gold, but he has come close.

Jackson believes that time will come for every player as long as they do their job.

"Nobody here needs to be a superstar player," Jackson added. "Everybody just play together. I think that's been the winning recipe for us."

Pittsburgh hopes its new trio of defenders can continue making an impact in Week 8 when it hosts the New York Giants (2-5) on "Monday Night Football."

All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.