The Pittsburgh Steelers have increased their defensive roster with another former Baltimore Ravens draftee. Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report stated on March 14 that the Steelers have secured free agent safety DeShon Elliott.
Schultz noted that the Steelers have inked a 2-year, $6 million deal with Elliott.
Elliott spent four seasons with the Ravens from 2018-21 and also played for the Detroit Lions in 2022 and Miami Dolphins last season.
Jordan Schultz announced on X (formerly Twitter) that free agent safety Deshon Elliott is joining the Steelers for 2 years, $6 million, wrote Schultz on X (formerly Twitter).
The Ravens selected Elliott at No. 190 overall in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft. After featuring in only six games in his initial two seasons, Elliott became a regular starter for Baltimore in 2020.
In the past four seasons, he started 50 matchups for the Ravens, Lions and Dolphins. In 2023, he recorded 82 combined tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 7 pass defenses and 1 interception in 15 games for Miami.
How DeShon Elliott Fits With the Steelers
After releasing Keanu Neal, who started eight games for the Steelers in 2023, Pittsburgh needed to at least add safety depth this offseason. Ideally, they would add another starting safety.
The Steelers achieved that at a reasonable cost with Elliott.
Elliott spent the entire 2018 season on injured reserve due to a fractured forearm. He then concluded the 2019 season after just six games because of a knee injury.
But in 2020, the Ravens had enough confidence in Elliott to name him a starter and release veteran Earl Thomas. Elliott started all 16 games, making 80 combined tackles with 2.5 sacks and 4 pass defenses in 2020.
Elliott remained a starter in 2021, but he concluded the season on injured reserve due to biceps and pectoral injuries.
In the last two seasons, Elliott started at least 13 games with the Lions and Dolphins. With Detroit, he recorded a career-best 96 combined tackles in 2022. This past season, Elliott achieved a career-high 7 pass defenses in Miami.
With his injury history seemingly in the past, Elliott arrives in Pittsburgh as the likely starter alongside 3-time All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick. The Steelers also have Damontae Kazee, who started nine games last season.
Pittsburgh’s Safety Depth, Salary Cap Situation After Signing Elliott
With the addition of Elliott, the Steelers now have three starting caliber safeties on the roster. The Steelers also re-signed special teams ace and safety Miles Killebrew this offseason.
Additionally, the Steelers have safeties Trenton Thompson and Jalen Elliott under contract for 2024.
Bringing back Eric Rowe, who finished the 2023 season as a starting safety for the Steelers, could be a possibility as well. But with the Elliott signing, the Steelers now seem to have solid safety depth.
The Steelers added that depth with minimal impact on the salary cap too. The Steelers Depot estimated on its X account that Elliott will count as roughly a $2.06 million cap hit in 2024.
That cap hit will increase to just under $4 million the following season.
Assuming that’s accurate, the Steelers have about $14.88 million remaining in available money for player salaries. The team will likely aim for a wide receiver, experienced center and maybe another cornerback with that money.
The Steelers could make more money available by adjusting contracts or extending contracts for Fitzpatrick and fellow defensive back Donte Jackson, pass rushers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith and defensive lineman Cameron Heyward.
