Despite a disappointing playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Pittsburgh Steelers defense finished the season ranked 7th in EPA/play and 8th in success rate on their way to a universally acknowledged top-ten season overall. This unit has the necessary foundational pieces already in place but it’s an aging unit in need of a refresh at a couple different positions. One of those spots is at safety, where an intriguing group of mid-round prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft appear to be good fits for the Steelers.
In 2023, the defense struggled at times on the back end due to injuries and generally inconsistent play. Before getting into potential additions, there are pertinent decisions to make regarding the players on the roster and impending free agents.
When thinking of foundational pieces, three-time All-Pro selection Minkah Fitzpatrick certainly fits the bill. Last season was a frustrating year for the Steelers star, however. It marked the first time in his career that he failed to register an interception, missing over seven games due to injury. When he was healthy, his usage was a consistent talking point with defensive coordinator Teryl Austin deploying him differently than years past, playing Fitzpatrick more near the line of scrimmage. In order to build around him in the secondary, the coaching staff needs to hone in on what their plans are for him, whether that entails him being a move around chess piece or reverting him back to his free safety post.
Based on the success of the three safety personnel groupings in 2022, the Steelers wanted to lean into that look again with Damontae Kazee and Keanu Neal rounding out the trio. Both safeties. Both players are technically still under contract for another season but there’s certainly a scenario where one or both are let go in favor of cap space. Both players are veteran with specific skill sets: Kazee as a ball-hawking deep safety and Neal as a box player but neither offer a ton of versatility in terms of alignment. One issue that was extremely evident last season was that the Steelers lacked speed on the back end and running it back with the same resources would be unwise. A significant investment seems unlikely but there are several mid-round 2024 NFL Draft safety options that the Steelers should be interested in.