Best 3 Free Agent Safeties For The Pittsburgh Steelers Still Available

The Pittsburgh Steelers apparently lost free agent safety Terrell Edmunds on Thursday as he tweeted out a goodbye message to the city, fans and teammates. While there has been no official word from the team or even an idea of where he is going, the tweet seems like solid proof. That leaves Pittsburgh with a big hole at safety, which was already an area in which they needed depth. 

The Steelers still have superstar Minkah Fitzpatrick and the recently re-signed Damontae Kazee, however they will need to add at least one more player to the mix. That means that GM Omar Khan is back to weighing his options. There are some solid draft picks that might be available and there are also some proven veteran players in free agency. 

Potential Free Agent Safety Targets for the Pittsburgh Steelers  

That definitely begs the question of which free agents the Steelers might consider now that Edmunds is gone. Let's take a look:

Taylor Rapp

Rapp is headed into his fifth season in the NFL. He was drafted in the second round by the Los Angeles Rams and just finished his rookie contract with them, becoming an unrestricted free agent. 

Rapp is not flashy like Fitzpatrick and that often gives the impression that he isn't a solid safety. He is an excellent tackler, according to Pro Football Focus, he has never missed more than 8.7% of potential tackles in a season. He had 148 tackles the past two seasons, which lands him ninth among safeties. 

He could benefit from being on a team where the staff helps him develop his potential. In Los Angeles, he was moved all around the lineup and this meant that he never excelled at any one specific spot - more like a jack of all trades. 

Rapp is a bit of a luxury pick since he won't be cheap. Spotrac has his value at about $10 million a year. The clock is ticking on free agency and Rapp is currently without a "home." He might be willing to come to Pittsburgh on a deal that benefits everyone and learn alongside a future Hall of Famer in Fitzpatrick. 

Rodney McLeod

McLeod takes us in the opposite direction of Rapp. McLeod is an 11-year vet who has been with the St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, and most recently, the Indianapolis Colts. Instead of providing that young depth that Rapp does, McLeod brings a solid, reliable vet to the team.

He had an excellent season in 2022, banking career numbers, despite being 32 years old. He played on more than 1,000 snaps and according to PFF, scored a career-high 80.1 overall and 85.3 on coverage. 

Don't let McLeod's age fool you. In Indianapolis, he beat out the rookies they had drafted to start. He is motivated, highly effective, and wants to play. He is also about as cheap as they come with Spotrac estimating his value for 2023 at $1.7 million a year. 

Duron Harmon

Harmon has been a bit of a journeyman during his 10 years in the league. He was drafted, some say much higher than he deserved, in the third round by the New England Patriots in 2013. He has also been with the Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, and most recently, the Las Vegas Raiders. 

Harmon, like McLeod, potentially provides excellent veteran depth for the Steelers. He has had multiple interceptions in his last six seasons and seems to just have a nose for the football. In 2022, he had a career-high 67 tackles and 11 defensive stops. That earned him a PFF grade of 77.6 in coverage. 

He has shown himself to be very versatile and athletic, the Patriots used him all over the field, rotating him in and out. He also comes with what is likely a reasonable price tag, $2.9 million a year according to Spotrac.  

What do you think about any of these free agents as a possible replacement for Edmunds? Do you think we should go draft or free agency for a safety? What do you think the Steelers will do? Let your voice be heard by telling us what you think! Click to comment below. 

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