ESPN: Jordan Whitehead Perfect Free Agency Fit for Steelers

ESPN has played matchmaker pairing impending free agents with their perfect landing spots, and believes the Pittsburgh Steelers would be wise to sign a Western Pennsylvania native. ESPN’s Ben Linsey thinks the Steelers and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead could be an ideal fit.

“Few safeties have been better at getting downhill and making plays against the run than Whitehead the past two years in Tampa Bay,” Linsey wrote. “He ranks in the 95th percentile of all safeties in run-defense grade and 97th percentile in run-stop percentage since 2020.”

Pittsburgh owned one of the league’s worst run defenses a season ago, but Linsey believes adding Whitehead would assist the Steelers in coverage as well.

“He is best suited as a strong safety in a defense that plays a lot of single-high coverages,” Linsey adds. “Things are trending in the opposite direction across the league, but the Steelers are one of the teams who still fit that bill.”

Whitehead has recorded 292 combined tackles, 25 passes defended, 22 tackles-for-loss and five interceptions in four seasons with the Buccaneers.

Not only did Whitehead play his college ball at Pitt, but he is also a product of Central Valley.