As the future of the off-season comes with uncertainty, the Steelers still need to address a few positions that will be battled out on-roster.
Strong Safety
There are so many different variables here that are in the works, and considering the rumors, it’s difficult to single out only Terrell Edmunds against another single player. The expectancy should be Edmunds to start, as Mike Hilton leads all candidates to be the replacement, and Cameron Sutton being a name that has flirted with the possible position change. The Steelers also have rookie Antoine Brooks Jr, but limitations of not being consistently competent in coverage should slide him near the box where he could maximize his potential.
Though fans have more than expressed their extreme optimism for Edmunds continuing as the starting strong safety in 2020, the post-draft comments by DB coach, Teryl Austin, have brought a real light to this situation.
Teryl Austin on asked whether Terrell Edmunds might be a hybrid linebacker instead of Antoine Brooks: "We’ll get them in our jar, shake 'em up and see where they fit best."
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) April 25, 2020
Relieved that the Steelers also realize a switch could greatly benefit the player and an already superb defense, the ability to have the versatility from multiple players is praiseworthy. No, Edmunds hasn’t been the best coverage wise, however, in his defense, he was thrown into the wolves as a rookie with a lack of help on the backend until Minkah Fitzpatrick’s arrival in 2019.
Did that seem to make much of a difference? For the secondary & defense as a whole, yes, but still struggling and at an alarming rate, a move down as Hilton moves up could serve everyone well.
Passer rating allowed against players in #Steelers secondary in 2019:
— Tommy Jaggi (@TommyJaggi) January 7, 2020
Minkah Fitzpatrick: 43.1
Cameron Sutton: 52.1
Joe Haden: 60.9
Steven Nelson: 66.6
Mike Hilton: 84.8
Terrell Edmunds: 139.1
One clear weak spot here this season... #steelersnation
The verdict will likely be out on Edmunds, who is entering his third year in this league, but if he could reach a ceiling that mirrored that of NFL DB/LB Deone Buchanan & his former role with the Arizona Cardinals, that’s essentially two birds with one stone.
The Steelers finally fill a role especially for a player they previously drafted in the first round, and also provide for another group on this defense that needs bodies badly.