For several months this offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers and safety Darnell Savage were in a strange kind of limbo. The initial report of his signing came all the way back in early March, but he didn't officially sign until June 2nd due to apparent health questions. Still, he seemed like a sensible addition to what was a rebuilt secondary this offseason.
Fast forward to training camp, and the Steelers were suddenly dealing with injuries to Jalen Ramsey, Joey Porter Jr. (well...maybe), and Donte Kent. Add in a cautious approach to DeShon Elliott's return to full practice, and the defensive back room certainly felt depleted.
Pittsburgh seemed to rectify that with the signing of Rayshawn Jenkins, but the team turned around and released Savage as a corresponding move on Sunday, ending his very odd and brief tenure with the black and gold.
Darnell Savage's time with the Pittsburgh Steelers comes to an unceremonious end
Savage was unlikely to be a key piece for the Steelers defense this season, but he was the only real veteran depth they had at safety before Jenkins' arrival. He fell out of favor with the Jacksonville Jaguars after signing a three-year, $21.75 million deal in 2024, ending up as an early-season cut in 2025 before bouncing between the Commanders and Bills the rest of the year.
The former Packers first-round pick started his career off strong, but his lack of development eventually made his elite athleticism (4.36 forty at the NFL Combine in 2019) not enough to be an impactful starter.
Still, he has played in 97 games (83 starts) and has over 5,000 defensive snaps under his belt since being drafted in 2019. The Steelers typically value veteran savvy and experience, but with Jenkins now in the mix behind Elliott and former Bears safety Jaquan Brisker, it seems as though the coaching staff is comfortable moving forward with that trio.
Assuming his health is in a good place, I don't think Savage will stay a free agent for very long. Even though he struggled the last few seasons, his first-round pedigree and experience in multiple schemes should make him a strong candidate for a fourth safety role or even as a veteran practice squad member.
Depending on how camp plays out, I wouldn't even shut the door on Savage returning at some point if the Steelers don't like what they see from Jenkins or one of the younger options like rookie Robert Spears-Jennings or Sebastian Castro. For now, though, it's an end to a very weird saga.
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