Steelers Still Have 1 Absolute Major Need On Defense For 2023

While the Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the league's premier players at the safety position in Minkah Fitzpatrick, the team probably still needs to find a running mate for the three-time All-Pro for 2023. The team opted to bring back hybrid safety Damontae Kazee on a two-year deal with a $3 million average salary per season, but the depth chart still looks like it needs another experienced body. 

Special teams ace, Miles Killebrew is the only other safety on the roster and has played in 1% and 4% of defensive snaps in his two seasons per Pro Football Reference. The team might also like the flexibility to use versatile players such as Tre Norwood and Arthur Maulet, who have both shown flashes in some limited performances. 

The franchise still needs to add some more experience to the position even if they decide to add some depth to the position in the draft. 

Steelers' Remaining Options At Safety

The organization was never going to be in the market for the likes of the Cincinnati Bengals' 2022 safety duo of Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates III, who left for teams outside of the division. The Steelers could've tried to use some of the newfound connections with assistant general manager, Andy Weidl and the Philadelphia Eagles to bring in CJ Gardner-Johnson but, even on a one-year deal with the Detriot Lions, he fetched a contract worth up to $8 million according to ESPN. 

Enough about who Pittsburgh can't get. Who is out there at safety that the Steelers could look try and bring in to provide some more experience at the position?

One Steelers insider thinks that with the options left, the team might better off going with what they know and bringing back Edmunds for another year on a cheap deal. Mark Kaboly of The Athletic mused recently that the team should be considering it when asked a question about positional priorities that have gone under the radar heading toward the 2023 NFL Draft at the end of April.

"I would still look long and hard at Terrell Edmunds. I want to keep that three-safety look intact, especially now with linebackers who aren’t known for coverage," Kaboly said. "In reality, they use free agency to fill the holes they currently have."

Among the other free agents remaining, perhaps one of the best budget revival projects among safeties is former AFC North foe, Ronnie Harrison. The 25-year-old saw his usage on defense dwindle down to just 25% of snaps for the Cleveland Browns in 2022, but had previously shown promise early in his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Steelers could try to swoop in with a value deal to try and resurrect the career of Fitzpatrick's three-year college teammate at the University of Alabama. 

If the team wants to go for a more proven veteran option, they might want to give a look at former NFC North man, Adrian Amos. The soon-to-be 30-year old is coming off his most productive season in the tackle department, finishing the season with 102. He also added 7 tackles for a loss, a sack and a quarterback hit. 

He doesn't provide much in the way of turnovers with just three force fumbles and ten interceptions in 126 career games, but he's a very solid tackler missing only 3.8% compared to Edmunds' 7.9% last year per Pro Football Reference.