The Pittsburgh Steelers have spent the first week of padded practices looking like a team with more layers than they’ve had in recent years, but one spot still has a familiar cloud hanging over it: safety.
Mike McCarthy didn’t try to dodge that reality. When asked about the room, he made it clear the Steelers are still weighing whether they’ve got the right mix there, especially when it comes to range and how the defensive backs will be deployed on special teams under Danny Crossman.
“I think you make an excellent point. I think it’s clearly some of the conversations we’ve been in, as far as the range of our safeties, and then also that carries over to Danny Crossman and how we’re going to utilize those DBs on special teams. So yes, the point is well made, and it’s definitely something we’re looking at.”
That’s the kind of answer that keeps the door cracked for another move. It doesn’t promise anything, but it does confirm the Steelers are not simply pretending the issue doesn’t exist. And with the rest of the roster looking stronger on paper, safety remains one of the few places that still feels unsettled.
The concern is pretty straightforward: the current group leans more toward players who are comfortable near the line of scrimmage than true deep-field cover men. That’s a problem if the team wants a legitimate free safety in Patrick Graham’s new scheme.
DeShon Elliott is still working back after the knee injury that ended his season in Week 12 last year and sent him to injured reserve. Jalen Ramsey, meanwhile, is sidelined after the knee injury he suffered during minicamp. Ramsey played a major role at free safety last season, but with Graham now running the defense, he’s expected to be used all over the field - in the slot, in hybrid roles, and only some at free safety.
The Steelers also added Jaquan Brisker on a one-year deal after bringing in the Pittsburgh native from the Chicago Bears. He’s listed as a free safety, but his game has long fit better closer to the box. Brisker is physical and can bring pop around the line of scrimmage, though he’s not really been viewed as a true ballhawk who thrives in deep coverage.
Robert Spears-Jennings gives them another option after being selected in the seventh round, but the question hasn’t gone away. McCarthy’s comments suggest the Steelers know it, too.
That’s why the position is still worth watching as camp rolls on. The free-agent pool is thin, so any real upgrade would likely have to come via trade or after roster cuts start shaking loose more names. For now, the Steelers are evaluating what they have - and keeping the possibility of another safety addition very much alive.
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