Pittsburgh Steelers backup safety job is up for grabs

With nine draft choices in the 2019 NFL Draft and money to spend in free agency, the Pittsburgh Steelers elected to do nothing to improve the safety position. Because of this, there is a backup safety job up for grabs.

Outside of Sean Davis and last years’ first round pick, Terrell Edmunds, the Steelers retained just Marcus Allen and Jordan Dangerfield from last year. This group doesn’t just look lackluster on paper, so far they have been less than stellar on the field.

Though Sean Davis and Terrell Edmunds showed improvement as the season went on, it’s not guaranteed that either young safety continues that trend into 2019. Davis only started to get good last season, and Edmunds was considered a 2nd or 3rd round prospect by most when the Steelers reached for him in round one last year.

According to Pro Football Focus, neither safety has been very impressive thus far. Though Davis had his best year as a Steeler, he was only ranked the 40th best safety by PFF and has only recorded one interception in his last 17 games. Edmunds was ranked even lower (65th best safety).

However, as average as Davis and Edmunds have been so far, the Steelers lack of depth at the safety position is perhaps more concerning. Marcus Allen is expected to play a large role for the Steelers this year as their dime backer and backup safety, but the former 5th rounder has only dressed for two NFL games in his short career.

Backup strong safety, Jordan Dangerfield, has been a practice squad player most of his career, and has started just 3 games by the age of 28.

This leaves the door wide open for a player like Dravon Askew-Henry or P.J. Locke to potentially grab a job on the final 53-man roster.

These pair of undrafted rookies wouldn’t stand much of a chance on most teams, but sometimes it’s about being in the right place at the right time. If an injury were to occur to any of their safeties, this would almost solidify one of these rookies as a lock.

Mike Tomlin has flirted with the idea of moving cornerbacks Cameron Sutton or even Brian Allen to safety, but those transitions aren’t as easy as they seem.

Regardless of how the Steelers approach this, one thing is for sure: Pittsburgh isn’t in a great way at the safety position.

The Steelers decision to ignore safety throughout the draft and free agency opens the door for an undrafted player to come in and earn a job. I think it is safe to say there will be a safety position up for grabs this year.