There is a good chance that the Steelers will need a new strong safety, and here are five options the team could add to start in 2022.
The Steelers are set to have their starting strong safety head into free agency this offseason in Terrell Edmunds. While the simplest solution may be to re-sign the veteran, as there aren’t any great options in the draft or free agency to replace him. That said, if Edmunds hits free agency, there is a good chance he walks.
Here are five players that could replace him for the Steelers in 2022.
Steelers could start Pola-Mao
One of the bigger disappointments of this season was Isaiah Pola-Mao. He is related to former Steelers’ great Troy Polamalu, but his time at USC has been underwhelming. After a great sophomore season, he followed it up with an average junior and then a below-average senior season. Now, he enters the draft with little fanfare after his collegiate regression.
That all said, he should be a better testing athlete, and Pola-Mao has shown flashes of elite play. Specifically, the closer he plays to the line of scrimmage and in the box, the better he is. He wouldn’t be a slam dunk starter as a rookie, but he could be a valuable role player for this defense.
They would still need someone else to at least start, but over time the job could become more his. This would be a last-ditch effort, but if the Steelers still need someone and he is available in the fourth round, he could be a fit.
Steelers could start Diggs
If the team wants to add a veteran to this defensive backs room, Quandre Diggs would fit the bill. He has been a regular starter for both the Lions and Seahawks and is still playing good football despite getting close to the age of 30. Of all of the names on this list, Diggs is easily the most consistent and reliable. He isn’t a flashy player, but he consistently does a good job of patrolling the secondary.
Where he struggles with is his run defense. He is far better suited to be covering tight ends or slot receivers as opposed to playing close to the line. While he can serve as a box safety, he is more of a coverage-based strong safety. With Minkah Fitzpatrick already occupying the role as a coverage safety, Diggs would be a bit redundant as a coverage-based strong safety.
As well, his play quality will likely lead to a moderate-sized contract for Diggs. With the Steelers having so many needs on this roster, dedicating a significant amount of their cap space to a safety wouldn’t be wise. This is especially so when Fitzpatrick will get an expensive new deal at some point this offseason. That said, if the Steelers want a consistent and capable starter, Diggs would fit the mold.
Steelers could start Brisker
Going back to the rookie class, the conscious top safety is Kyle Hamilton. The Notre Dame talent would be a perfect fit for the Steelers, but his odds of being available outside of the top ten is almost non-existent. Behind him is Jaquan Brisker, a Penn State product who has been productive over the past few seasons. While not a big-play threat, Brisker is a steady presence in any secondary.
He has free and strong safety versatility but given his strength as a run defender and lack of ball skills, a permanent move to strong safety with some play in the slot makes the most sense. There, he can excel as a man-coverage option against tight ends while also filling run gaps. He isn’t a premier athlete, but he is fast enough to hand with NFL players. It wouldn’t be a flashy pick, but it would be a safe choice for a team that will need a new starter.
While Brisker will more than likely be available when the Steelers pick in the draft, it will come down to what other holes the team will want to be filled. While not having a good strong safety is an issue, so are the holes along both lines, quarterback, and off-ball linebacker. While he may be a good player, the team may opt to go elsewhere with their top pick. With almost no chance of making it to the second round, Brisker will have to prove that he is more valuable than filling some of the more desperate needs.
Steelers could start Kearse
Jayron Kearse wasn’t much of a starter before this season, but the Cowboys added him on a cheap one-year deal for depth. His great play was hard to keep off the field though, and he quickly ascended into the starting strong safety for Dallas. He has been effective as both a coverage player and a run defender.
Kearse has always had the size and athleticism to succeed in the NFL, but his ability to read an offense was never that great. That seemed to have changed this season, as he quickly became one of the more dynamic defensive backs for the Cowboys. The Steelers could add him in the offseason to give Fitzpatrick a stronger running mate.
The biggest issue with Kearse is that any team adding him is paying for essentially one year of production. There have been countless times that a player was one and done, and a large deal could easily backfire on the Steelers. That said, his play from this season would be a huge boost for this secondary. If the team is ok with the risk, Kearse would be a great addition to this secondary.
Steelers could start Peppers
A name that has been linked to the Steelers for a while, the team had a not-so-secret crush on Jabrill Peppers when he was coming out of Michigan. He put a new name on a hybrid defender, as Peppers was used as a safety, linebacker, cornerback, and even an offensive weapon. He hasn’t had the same level of success at the pro level, but he has developed into an above-average strong safety.
His calling card is his rare athleticism. Beyond just being fast, Peppers has the ability to utilize the field and his speed to get key stops with his agile moves. He can read an offense relatively well and once he sees what is going on, he is quick to react. His coverage isn’t great, but as a strong safety playing closer to the line of scrimmage, he can be dynamic.
A new deal for Peppers won’t likely be cheap, as he was valuable enough to get his fifth-year option picked up and played well enough while on it. If the team wants a freak athlete covering opposing tight ends and attacking the line of scrimmage though, Peppers will work. The team was very interested in him before he was drafted, and now could be their opportunity to finally get him on the roster.
The Steelers will have a slew of holes to fill this offseason, and one of them may very well be at strong safety. If Edmunds decides to walk, the team will have to get a new safety to pair with Fitzpatrick. These five options are easily the Steelers’ best bets to start if Edmunds ends up signing elsewhere this offseason.