Steelers Signing of DeShon Elliott Will Allow Minkah Fitzpatrick to Get Back to Playing ‘Minkah Ball’
Thomas Graham had a great spring and is now in a solid spot to win the nickel cornerback job on the Steelers defense.
One topic of discussion at the Steelers OTAs and minicamp was getting Minkah Fitzpatrick back into position to play “Minkah ball.” The Steelers signing of DeShon Elliott will go a long way in allowing Fitzpatrick to do that. Elliott is expected to play in a similar role to what Fitzpatrick did in 2023.
Elliott could have a clear role as the run-down slot and be used heavily in blitz packages. On top of that, he should play most of those box snaps that put more stress on the body. Fitzpatrick played down in that role for almost a quarter of the time in 2023 which was far higher than the rest of his career in Pittsburgh.
His role should be similar to that of Fitzpatrick a year ago, while Damontae Kazee figures to take on more of Keanu Neal’s role.
With most of the safeties already having that defined role, the practice time that the team spent already was more about building a foundation with and for all of the newcomers. Elliott is just excited to be a part of an elite defense.
“I would say that it feels amazing to be out here, T.J. [Watt], Cam [Heyward], Minkah [Fitzpatrick], just all of us being able to come together and play,” Elliott told Missi Matthews. “We are not where we want to be yet but we are building a foundation. For right now that is a great step forward so I am excited to be here.”
With the players that Elliott listed plus guys like Patrick Queen, Joey Porter Jr. and himself, the Steelers defense should have one of the top units in the entire league in 2024. For now, they are just taking it one day at a time but being diligent in their process.
“Take it one day at a time but be in a rush [about it],” Elliott said. “Yeah it’s one day at a time but we want to be great. So each day you find something to be better at for your skillset. … I just think right now everybody is eager to be better and it frustrates us when we aren’t at our best right now but with that mindset we can be great.”
In pursuit of that greatness, Elliott has been trying to develop a friendship with his safety duo and said that it is going well which should provide better chemistry on the field.
“We’ve been going to lunches, dinners, breakfast, we’ve been doing workouts outside of the facility,” Elliott said about his relationship with Fitzpatrick. “One day at a time. Of course, things aren’t perfect yet but eventually I want to mesh like peanut butter and jelly and I think we will be.”
Like most players, Elliott wanted to play for the Steelers mainly because of the head coach. Since his arrival, Elliott said that he sees why everybody wants to play for Tomlin and even started picking up on certain Tomlin-isms.
“He is the most credible head coach in the NFL,” Elliott said. “Since I been in the NFL, talking to the guys, everybody wants to play for him and now being here, I see why.”
One of Tomlin’s sayings that stuck in Elliott’s mind was about not making excuses.
“Don’t be a comfort seeker,” Elliott said. “Seeking comfort, giving excuses, things of that nature is not where you are going to find greatness and he preaches greatness so being a comfort seeker does not work here being a Steeler.”
Nonetheless, Elliott enters the season as one of the Steelers expected starters in the secondary and will be a big factor in allowing Fitzpatrick to play “Minkah ball.”
25 • DeShon Elliott, Safety, Texas
6-foot-0, 210 pounds, 27 years old, 7th Season
Acquired: The Steelers signed DeShon Elliott to a two-year contract on March 14, 2024.
Last Season:Â In his lone season in Miami, Elliott started 15 games for the Dolphins. In his 15 starts, Elliott totaled 82 tackles, one interception and a career-high seven defended passes.
Elliott’s best game as a Dolphin came in Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills when he combined for 10 tackles and recorded his lone interception.
Career:Â The Baltimore Ravens drafted DeShon Elliott with the 190th overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. Elliott missed his entire rookie season due to an injury. In 2019, Elliott’s season was cut short again as he played in just six games before spending the rest of the year on the injured reserve.
Elliott entered the 2020 season as a projected backup but after the Ravens released Earl Thomas, Elliott was thrusted into a starting role. He started 16 games for the Ravens in 2020 and recorded 80 tackles and four defended passes.
His playing time was cut short in 2021 as he was lost due to a season-ending injury for the third time in his career.
Following his first four years in Baltimore, Elliott signed with the Detroit Lions for the 2022 season. In 14 games, Elliott started 13 games and tallied a career-high 96 tackles. He added an interception and three defended passes during that season.
Over his first six seasons, Elliott has played in 57 games and started 50 of them. He has logged 287 combined tackles, three interceptions and 15 defended passes.
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Tackles | INTs | PBUs |
| 2018 | BAL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | BAL | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020 | BAL | 16 | 16 | 80 | 0 | 4 |
| 2021 | BAL | 6 | 6 | 23 | 1 | 2 |
| 2022 | DET | 14 | 13 | 96 | 1 | 3 |
| 2023 | MIA | 15 | 15 | 82 | 1 | 7 |
College:Â DeShon Elliott played his college football at the University of Texas. He played sparingly as a freshman before stepping up in 2016. As a sophomore, Elliott logged 30 tackles, one interception and five defended passes for the Longhorns. He also recorded his first career start as a sophomore.
In 2017, Elliott really bursted onto the scene. As a junior, Elliott totaled a career-high 63 tackles, six interceptions, 15 defended passes and three forced fumbles.
Over his three years at Texas, Elliott appeared in 30 games, logged 106 tackles, nine picks, 23 defended passes and four forced fumbles.
| Year | GP | TKLs | INTs | PDs | FFs |
| 2015 | 6 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2016 | 12 | 30 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 2017 | 12 | 63 | 6 | 15 | 3 |
Salary cap and future:Â DeShon Elliott signed a two-year, $6 million contract with the Steelers earlier this offseason. In his first year with the team, Elliott will cost $2.25 million against the team’s cap space. Elliott will become a free agent following the 2025 season.
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