2 available safeties the Steelers can still sign through free agency
Tre Boston
Bringing us to Tre Boston, who faces a somewhat similar resolution. Returning to the Carolina Panthers, Boston was back where his NFL career began, however with Ron Rivera out as the head coach; the scheme didn’t particularly lean in his favor.
Known for his ability on the deep end, Boston found himself receiving more playing time than usual as a box defender, and the effect was real. He allowed a 67.3 completion percentage when targeted and was tallied for 15 missed tackles in 2020, each marking his highest total in the last three years. Also, he was only responsible for one interception – his lowest since his rookie season.
As of now, what has been stated doesn’t make the addition of Tre sound too convincing, but if there is any name available in free agency that could spell reps for Fitzpatrick, it’s Boston.
Panthers release safety Tre Boston. He was used around the line of scrimmage much more than in previous years. Still a very good free safety.
— Steve Palazzolo (@PFF_Steve) February 19, 2021
From 2017-20, one of the best free safety @PFF coverage grades in the league pic.twitter.com/j0s9RUrmiN
If not minding his issues as a tackler, he consistently has remained one of the better deep cover safeties in the league for the past few years.
#FFIDP - Highest forced incompletion percentage among all defensive backs since 2017 (min. 100 targets) per @PFF:
— Jon Macri (@PFF_Macri) July 2, 2021
1. Jessie Bates III, S - 21.8%
2. Gareon Conley, CB - 18.7%
3. Casey Hayward Jr., CB - 18.1%
4. Tre Boston, S - 17.3%
5. Adrian Amos, S - 17.0%#IDP
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How he always finds himself at the end of one-year deals? No one knows, but adding a fourth to his collection that would result in him being a Steeler, brings leadership and an insurance policy that could be relied upon.