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3 veteran safeties the Steelers could add through free agency

By Tommy Jaggi

CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 01: A detailed view of a Pittsburgh Steelers helmet before their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on September 1, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 01: A detailed view of a Pittsburgh Steelers helmet before their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on September 1, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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LATROBE, PA – JULY 29: An NFL football sits on the practice field during the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp on July 29, 2011 at St Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
LATROBE, PA – JULY 29: An NFL football sits on the practice field during the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp on July 29, 2011 at St Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /

Eric Berry

This free agent pickup seems a bit unrealistic, as Berry would probably like to be paid as one of the best safeties in the league.

However, there would be a lot of risk involved in this signing. Berry has played in just 3 games over the past two NFL seasons, and has dealt with both cancer and season ending injuries throughout his career.

When he is healthy, however, Berry is one of the best safeties we have seen in this generation. He has made the Pro Bowl every year he has played at least 15 games (5 seasons), and has earned All-Pro honors in 3 of those 5 season.

Berry was a fantastic player in his prime who could take the ball away or provide sticky coverage. He was perhaps the best defensive back in the NFL at covering tight ends for a while, and at 30 years old, he should have a few good years left in him.

It would be difficult for the Steelers to free up enough money to sign the former All-Pro, but not impossible. If the Steelers gave extensions to players like Joe Haden or Alejandro Villanueva, they could back load their contracts, and open up room for Eric Berry.

Berry would obviously be a starter if the Steelers signed him – moving Sean Davis back to a reserve role on the team. But with the Steelers in a Super Bowl window, it may be worth the headache of trying to move money around to make it work.

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