Report: Steelers Eyeing Three Safeties as Free Agent Options

While the Pittsburgh Steelers did address many of their needs early in free agency, the club is still looking for a free agent safety to play along side All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick.

According to ESPN’S Jeremy Fowler, the Steelers have their eyes on a trio of safeties still on the market: Tyrann Mathieu, Damontae Kazee and Terrell Edmunds.

Fowler described the Mathieu interest as “chatter,” but there is no denying he and Fitzpatrick would immediately form the most formidable safety pairing in the league.

“(Mathieu) plays with the kind of edge that would seamlessly fit in Pittsburgh,” Fowler wrote.

A three-time All-Pro, Mathieu has spent that last three season as Kansas City’s primary defensive playmaker. He has 17 takeaways individually in the last three years with the Chiefs alone.

Kazee, who Fowler described as a “wild-card option,” was a key contributor for a Dallas Cowboys defense that was much improved in 2021. He totaled 52 tackles and snagged a pair of interceptions in 17 games played. Kazee had ten interceptions over his four years prior in Atlanta.

“He is known as a ball hawk who can play multiple spots,” Fowler wrote. “The Steelers have him on their radar.”

The last option is to re-sign Edmunds, who has served as Pittsburgh’s starting strong safety since he was selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. What Edmunds provides is familiarity and continuity, having shared a secondary with Fitzpatrick for the last three seasons. He recorded 89 total tackles, a career-high eight tackles-for-loss, six passes defended and two interceptions in 2021.