The Pittsburgh Steelers found safety depth in former first-round pick Darnell Savage late on Tuesday night. Savage also came for a bargain price.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the Steelers agreed to a 1-year deal with Savage. Over the Cap, per Steelers Depot, added the contract will have a base salary of $1.3 million.
That’s the league minimum for the 2026 season.
Savage will also receive a $187,500 signing bonus and possess about a $1.26 cap hit for 2026.
Just two years ago, Savage was a starting safety for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Last year, he appeared in 12 contests for the Jaguars, Washington Commanders and Buffalo Bills.
The Green Bay Packers selected Savage at No. 21 overall in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He spent his first five seasons with the Packers before joining the Jaguars in 2024.
In 2025, Savage registered 18 combined tackles, three pass defenses and one forced fumble.
The Steelers will be able to officially sign Savage at 4 pm ET Wednesday, along with their other free agents. That’s when the new league year begins.
Until then, Pittsburgh’s agreement with Savage is in principle and not officially. That came into play with the Baltimore Ravens trade for edge rusher Maxx Crosby on Tuesday night.
Steelers Set to Sign Safety Darnell Savage: Report
In Savage, the Steelers are adding more experience and depth to their secondary.
Some might say Savage failed to live up to his first-round hype. He’s never made the Pro Bowl or All-Pro team.
But Savage was a serviceable starter immediately and remained one until last season. From 2019-24, he made 82 starts in 85 games, posting 353 combined tackles, including 11 for loss. He also had 38 pass defenses with 10 interceptions.
Savage returned for his second season with the Jaguars last year, but Jacksonville released him in September. He spent most of the campaign with the Commanders, who also released him in December. Savage finished the season in Buffalo.
In Savage, the Steelers landed a safety who has valuable experience but won’t have to play a lot.
When he entered the league, Savage received praise for his athleticism.
“Twitchy, urgent athlete. Movement in space is fluid and natural. Quick pedal to gain depth from high-safety spot,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote in Savage’s draft profile. “Makeup speed to chase down the throw. Thrives in off-man coverage from slot. Above-average coverage IQ.
“Explosive downhill trigger to run the alley or fit up into gaps. Always looking for work, and motor won’t allow him to coast. Good radar to seek and tackle on the move.”
In a perfect world, he will provide defensive depth for a secondary that’s potentially losing four safeties.
Steelers Safety Depth Entering 2026 NFL Offseason
The Steelers will bring back two starting safeties from last season — DeShon Elliott and Jalen Ramsey. They also have undrafted free agent Sebastian Castro on the roster.
But the Steelers are set to see safeties Kyle Dugger, Chuck Clark, Jabrill Peppers and Miles Killebrew leave in free agency.
That’s a lot of snaps — both on defense and special teams — to lose. Dugger and Clark combined to play 996 defensive snaps while Peppers lined up for 206 snaps on special teams. Killebrew didn’t play as much, but he sustained a season-ending knee injury in October.
In prior seasons, Killebrew served as Pittsburgh’s special teams ace.
Throughout his career, Savage hasn’t played a lot on special teams but some. The most ideal role for him in Pittsburgh will be at safety so Ramsey can move around the Steelers secondary more than he did during the second half of last season.
The Steelers will likely need to add more safety help this offseason. But adding Savage was a start to addressing the end.
Steelers Signing Former 1st-Round Safety to Bargain Deal: Report