5 best positional groups on the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021
By Tyler Jaggi
3. Safety
Starters: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Terrell Edmunds
Reserves: Antoine Brooks Jr., Arthur Maulet, Tre Norwood, Donovan Stiner, Lamont Wade
Positional grade: B
The starters are set in stone. Both Minkah Fitzpatrick and Terrell Edmunds will be returning as the Steelers starters for the 2021 season. Steelers just picked up Minkah’s $10.6 mil 5th-year option so he will be on the team for the next 2 seasons. Fitzpatrick has been voted to the All-Pro team each of the last two years after 9 INTs over the previous two seasons. When comparing the Steelers starting safeties to those around the league they are near the top. Minkah is considered by most to be a top 5 safety in the league.
The Steelers declined the 5th year option for Terrell Edmunds, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t remain on the Steelers after this season. After being considered one of the biggest reaches in the 2018 NFL Draft, Edmunds has slowly improved each season into a decent starting safety. The good news for Pittsburgh is that the safety free-agent market has been very bargain-friendly for the last several years. Steelers could end up signing Edmunds for half of what his 5th-year option would have cost.
Overall, the Steelers safety tandem should be a reliable pairing and Minkah will likely continue his Pro-bowl level of play. Edmunds now enters a contract year and will look to prove his worth in order to get paid in the off-season. The safety position will be one of the top strengths of the Steelers team.