The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into the 2026 offseason with a safety room that’s about to look very different - and not necessarily in a good way. After carrying a deep group at the position in 2025, the team now faces the possibility of losing four safeties to free agency: Kyle Dugger, Miles Killebrew, Chuck Clark, and Jabrill Peppers.
That leaves DeShon Elliott as the lone reliable option under contract, with Jalen Ramsey technically still on the roster - though his future in Pittsburgh is far from guaranteed. Even if Ramsey sticks around, the Steelers are clearly in the market for help on the back end, particularly in coverage, where they struggled mightily last season.
Enter Kamren Curl.
The Los Angeles Rams safety is projected to command a four-year, $40.1 million deal in free agency, according to Spotrac. And based on both need and fit, Curl looks like an ideal target for Pittsburgh. He’s coming off a breakout campaign in Chris Shula’s defense, where he posted a career-high 87.5 run-defense grade and an 87.6 coverage grade over his two seasons in L.A., per Pro Football Focus.
That kind of dual-threat production - strong in coverage, stout against the run - is exactly what the Steelers need.
Pittsburgh’s safety unit gave up the second-most receptions of 15+ yards in the league last year and ranked 30th in passing yards allowed. That’s not just a red flag - it’s a siren.
The group had trouble keeping a lid on explosive plays, and it routinely put the defense in tough spots. Upgrading that area isn’t just a priority; it’s a necessity.
Curl, at just 26 years old, brings the kind of versatility and upside that fits perfectly with what the Steelers are trying to build. He’s not just a coverage guy who roams the deep third - he’s physical, disciplined, and smart against the run. That’s a rare combination, and it’s one Pittsburgh could put to good use.
If the Steelers land Curl, it would allow them to pair him with Elliott on the back end, and potentially move Ramsey - assuming he stays - back to the outside, opposite Joey Porter Jr. That alignment would immediately shore up two key areas: safety and outside corner. It also gives the Steelers the kind of flexibility they’ve lacked in recent years when it comes to matching up with modern NFL offenses.
As for Curl’s availability, the Rams would certainly like to keep him, but even he’s unsure about where things stand. “I really don’t know what’s going to happen.
We’re going to let it play out and I’m going to sit back,” Curl said recently. “I would love to be back here.
This is a great organization, a winning organization and I would love to be back for sure.”
Still, if he does hit the open market, Pittsburgh would be wise to make a strong push.
The Steelers’ defense needs to get younger, faster, and more dynamic - especially in the secondary. Curl checks all those boxes. He’s a proven commodity with room to grow, and he fits the mold of what Pittsburgh has long valued in its defensive backs: toughness, intelligence, and the ability to make plays in multiple phases of the game.
For a team looking to retool on defense and keep pace in a loaded AFC North, Kamren Curl might just be the right piece at the right time.