PHOENIX -- The Steelers aren't done just yet in adding to the roster. Mike Tomlin made that well known as part of their two-pronged attack to improve the roster via free agency and the draft. But, the Steelers aren't going to hide where some of the needs remain on the roster.
One position in particular that became a larger need than originally thought is at safety. While Tomlin doesn't often tip his hand, he had no issue in saying the Steelers are still in the market to make further additions in the back end of the defense.
"It's in development," Tomlin said Monday morning at the NFL Annual Meeting regarding further additions at safety. "The free agency process is still ongoing. Our draft prep is going well. We're going to add to that bunch, certainly. By what means is to be determined. But, there are some credible candidates out there in both pools."
The Steelers were able to re-sign Damontae Kazee to a two-year, $6-million contract, which brought back two-thirds of the three-safety package the team frequently deployed last season. Despite a smaller sample size in terms of what he was able to do on the field due to a five-game suspension and preseason forearm fracture, the reasons for making Kazee a priority in free agency were abundantly clear.
"He's got ball production," Tomlin said. "He brings an energy and enthusiasm that's infectious, that's good for teams not only in stadium, but day to day. He has a Steelers spirit that we value."
However, the Steelers suffered a loss at the position when Terrell Edmunds opted to travel across the state to join the Eagles. The transaction became a bit puzzling when the terms of the contract were made public. Edmunds signed a one-year, $2-million deal, and that only comes with $600,000 guaranteed.
For reference of how cheap that deal is, the right-of-first-refusal tender for restricted free agents this year was $2.6 million. Even coming off a solid season, Edmunds couldn't land more than the cheapest qualifying offer for a restricted free agent.
Tomlin acknowledged what Edmunds meant to the team, though nothing screamed that him leaving via free agency was some sort of colossal loss.
"(He's a) football lover," Tomlin said of Edmunds. "He's highly available, very durable, tough. We had a good experience together. I wish him nothing but the best."
Now tasked with replacing Edmunds, the Steelers might not be looking for the same exact type of player. Tomlin helped explain that the safety position ultimately revolves around what Minkah Fitzpatrick does in the middle of the field. And because of that, the Steelers don't need the traditional free safety or strong safety in their defense, which has a wide variety of subpackages.
"Strong and free (safety) are kind of misnomers these days," Tomlin said. "Most guys play right and left, and those that don't are somewhat interchangeable based on schematics or calls. I just think that's what we are. Minkah patrols the middle of the field as a home base. We work off of that."
While the Steelers will certainly look to add to the safety position, adding to the secondary is the ultimate goal, especially with a very deep and very talented class of cornerbacks in the upcoming draft. Because of that, Tomlin has already looked internally for players that can add to the level of versatility he desires on defense. Newcomer Patrick Peterson can be part of that endeavor, despite him spending his career on the perimeter.
"He's versatile. Not only in terms of his talents, but his intellect," Tomlin said of Peterson. "We're not going to be bashful about moving him around. He and I have already had that discussion. He's really excited about the prospects of that."
Remaining free-agent safeties include Adrian Amos, Rodney McLeod, Duron Harmon, John Johnson III and Kareem Jackson. Taylor Rapp was also an option in free agency until Monday morning, as it's been reported that he's signing a one-year deal with the Bills.
In the draft, the name that will draw a lot of attention if the Steelers choose not to use free agency to address safety is Alabama's Brian Branch. While Branch is certainly not the same type of safety that Edmunds is, he's a very smart football player that can move around and play in a variety of spots, including the slot. In his final season with the Crimson Tide, Branch racked up 90 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions and seven passes defended. That makes him a worthwhile candidate at 17th overall and pretty much a no brainer if he falls to 32nd overall.
The Steelers have already committed $24.8 million of the 2023 salary cap to new additions and re-signings, not including the re-signing of Zach Gentry. The Steelers are currently working with $10.888 million in cap space, according to Spotrac. There are still other moves that can be done to add more cap space, with a potential restructure of T.J. Watt's contract topping the list of how to clear the most space.
Either way, the Steelers still have more than enough flexibility to address safety and other roster needs moving forward.
MORE FROM THE MEETING
• Diontae Johnson's lack of touchdown production hasn't given Tomlin any reason to trust him any less. He knows that regardless of what Johnson was facing last year -- living up to the pressure of a big contract, getting used to a new quarterback, etc. -- the inability to get into the end zone went beyond anything he did individually.
"It’s probably a reflection of us and where we were but I've been pretty transparent about that," Tomlin said. "We were very much a unit and a squad in development a year ago. We don't apologize for that. We did what we had to do to make ourselves competitive and particularly down the stretch, put ourselves in position to win. It provides a platform for us to grow from and those are our intentions. Last year is last year, as far as we're concerned in terms of some of these discussions."
• Rule change proposals here at the Meeting will become topics of conversation in the halls of the Arizona Biltmore. As Tomlin is on the competition committee, he has perspective on certain rule changes. The most talked about proposal is having roughing-the-passer penalties become reviewable. Tomlin shared his point of view not necessarily as head coach of the Steelers, but as a member of the competition committee.
"We looked at a lot of it. We analyzed it because it is a hot button topic," Tomlin said. "There’s a lot of emotions when those flags fall on the ground, because usually, it's a significant play and often occurs in significant moments. But based on the analysis of what we saw, man, I respected the level of officiating that the play was given. Sometimes our reactions are just that: emotional."
• The competition committee has proposed eight rule changes and three bylaw changes. While there isn't one particular proposal he's passionate about, Tomlin is zeroed in on any improvements that can make the game safer.
"I don't know if there's any particular rule that I'm passionate about, but I'm passionate and highly sensitive to the things regarding player safety and improving the game in that way," Tomlin said. "As I mentioned, as a lover and appreciator of the game, as someone who has benefited from the game in terms of my involvement, I think we’ve all got an obligation to safeguard its future and the future of those that play it. Player safety is at the forefront of that. As a parent who has two guys that play this game, it's also awesome to be a part of it in that way."
• While Tomlin was originally appointed to the competition committee, he really enjoys having a hand in the direction of the game. It's one thing to lobby for changes from the outside. It's something else entirely when you're directly involved. Tomlin much prefers the latter.
"I just like being a part of the process," Tomlin said. "I'm not one to sit on the sidelines and complain. If there's work to be done, I'd like to be in the midst of it. I just think being on the Committee has afforded me an opportunity to do that and to help and to safeguard the game that's been great to all of us and that we all care about."
