NFL Draft preview: Steelers could pass on safety class that is lacking top-tier prospects

Since taking Terrell Edmunds with the No. 28 overall pick in 2018 and trading for Minkah Fitzpatrick a year later, the Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t needed to use an early draft pick on the safety position.

The only additions via the draft came late on the third day. In 2020, the Steelers took Antoine Brooks in the sixth round. The following year, multi-purpose defensive back Tre Norwood arrived in the seventh.

Considering the quality and depth of this year’s class, safety is likely to be an afterthought for the Steelers again in the draft.

“The safety class is not terrific this year,” ESPN analyst Field Yates said. “Its beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

And, according to most draft analysts, there is nothing aesthetic about the position in the first round.

“I don’t think even we have one. Maybe (Tyler) Nubin from Minnesota goes in the top 50, in the second round,” NFL Network draft guru Daniel Jeremiah said. “But, man, we might not have a safety go in the top 50 picks. It’s possible.”

Which is why the Steelers can sharpen their focus on other positions of need: center, tackle, wide receiver, cornerback, defensive line. In perhaps a foreshadowing of their intentions regarding the safety class, the Steelers didn’t use any of their official top-30 visits on a prospect who played the position full time in college.

Of course, the Steelers employ a three-time All-Pro free safety in Fitzpatrick and, until 2023, they had Edmunds start 75 games at strong safety. When Edmunds exited via free agency a year ago, the Steelers signed veteran Keanu Neal. Along with holdover Damontae Kazee, he helped form a three-safety package with Fitzpatrick that the Steelers liked to deploy in certain situations.

Injuries disrupted most plans the Steelers had for the safety trio. Neal started eight games and appeared in nine before spending the final portion of the season on injured reserve. Kazee started nine games, but he was suspended for the final three for his violent hit on Indianapolis receiver Michael Pittman Jr.

Fitzpatrick also had difficulty staying healthy and started a career-low 10 games. Circumstances were such that the Steelers gave meaningful snaps to former practice squad player Trenton Thompson, they signed an unemployed Eric Rowe for the stretch run and they shifted Patrick Peterson from cornerback to free safety in place of Fitzpatrick.

This offseason, the Steelers signed DeShon Elliott to a two-year, $6 million contract to take Neal’s spot on the roster. Kazee, Thompson and special teams captain Miles Killebrew also return.

The prospect regarded as the highest-rated safety in the class of 2024 is Nubin, who set the school record at Minnesota with 13 career interceptions. As a senior, he was a first-team Big Ten selection and tied for fifth nationally with five picks. He also had a sack, a forced fumble and four pass breakups.

Although he didn’t get invited to the South Side for a pre-draft visit, Nubin met with the Steelers and coach Mike Tomlin at the NFL Combine, calling it a “dream come true.”

Not surprisingly, he patterns his game after Fitzpatrick.

“His intangibles are second to none,” Nubin said. “He’s a long, rangy guy like me who can play anywhere on the field. That’s how I think I can play. I think I can play in the back end, I can play up close to the box, I think I’m a really good blitzer. … He’s kind of that Swiss Army knife, which is what I like to think of myself as. I’m not a one-dimensional safety. I can do it all.”

Another second-round prospect is Miami’s Kamren Kinchens, who had 26 passes defensed and 11 interceptions in his final two seasons with the Hurricanes. He also was a two-time all-ACC selection.

“No safety in this class has better instincts and anticipation as a deep-field player, whether that is as a single safety in the middle of the field or in a split-safety structure,” ESPN analyst Louis Riddick said. “He is consistently a step ahead of the quarterback with his understanding of route concepts and his ability to reach the passer’s eyes and shoulder leans. He also shows the efficient transition mechanics and closing burst to get into position to make game-changing plays.”