Opposite of star Minkah Fitzpatrick, the safety position was a big unknown for the Pittsburgh Steelers heading into the offseason. Five-year veteran Terrell Edmunds was set to enter free agency, and well, he ended up signing with the Philadelphia Eagles on a one-year, $2+ million deal. Based off the cheapness of the deal, it appeared as if the two sides simply wanted to move on.
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Safeties Terrell Edmunds and Minkah Fitzpatrick spent a few seasons together with the Steelers, but Fitzpatrick will have a new running mate in 2023.
Perhaps most concerning, the safety class in the 2023 NFL Draft was quite weak. Brian Branch out of Alabama was widely regarded as the best safety, but the drop off after him was steep. Branch and the Steelers were connected throughout the pre-draft process, as he can play all over the place on defense. Thankfully, the Steelers found a different starting safety before Edmunds even left in free agency.
It was a familiar face in six-year veteran Damontae Kazee, who appeared in nine games for the Steelers in 2022. The front office brought him back on a two-year, $6 million deal in March, but it didn't always appear as if the two sides would reunite for another season. The safety admitted just that in a quote gathered from Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review earlier this month.
"No! I’d gotten rid of my apartment and everything. But I know business is business. So you keep your head up.”
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Steelers safety Damontae Kazee brings a unique blend of physicality in the run game and intelligence in pass coverage.
Many fans wanted the Steelers to bring him back, but as he points out, it seemed unlikely to happen at the start of free agency. Kazee missed eight games due to injury, but when he was healthy, he provided a spark to the defense. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin used Kazee as a chess piece in those nine appearances. With Edmunds now gone, Kazee will be the starter alongside Fitzpatrick.
Will Steelers defense be better in 2023?
In 2022, Kazee started four games for the black and gold, but he will surpass that number in 2023. He quickly became a fan favorite in Pittsburgh through his free-willing attitude and consistent energy on the field. With Keanu Neal essentially replacing Edmunds' spot on the roster, the Steelers will have another versatile safety trio in 2023. Kazee is happy that he got the chance to return to Pittsburgh.
"Of course, I’m happy to be here. It was a lot of teams that called out. But I liked this program over here, I like the brotherhood, I like the coaches. Everybody is just one unit around here, everybody’s close. So this was an easy choice for me to come back. I always tell everybody, it’s a blessing, man, a blessing to be here. So I enjoy every moment," Kazee said via Adamski.
The safety's 273 defensive snaps across nine games wasn't nearly enough to qualify for Pro Football Focus' rankings, but he excelled in those snaps. His 81.0 overall grade would have ranked sixth in the NFL amongst safeties if it qualified, just a few snaps behind Fitzpatrick. Specifically, the San Diego State product was phenomenal in run defense as well as pass coverage.
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Steelers DB Minkah Fitzpatrick is arguably the best safety in the NFL heading into the 2023 season.
On the year, Kazee finished with 20 total tackles, two interceptions, and two pass deflections. He's shown to be a bit of a ballhawk in his career, as he has 14 interceptions in 78 contests. That, coupled with his physicality, should create a very good duo at safety for the black and gold. Expectations are high in Pittsburgh, and Kazee should play a huge role in helping the defense return to its elite form.
What are your expectations for Kazee in his second season with the team? Do you think he's an upgrade over Edmunds in the starting lineup? Do you expect the defense to be a top-five unit in the NFL? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
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