Steelers Now
One of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ more notable free agent signings may not be guaranteed a starting job.
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed former second-round safety Jaquan Brisker to bolster their secondary this offseason. However, NFL analyst Emory Hunt doesn’t think Brisker is guaranteed a starting job.
Hunt believes that Brisker will have to beat out fellow veteran safety Darnell Savage for the position.
“The real battle is Jaquan Brisker and Darnell Savage,” Hunt said on CBS Sports. “It’s about what you prefer. Brisker is a solid player, had a lot of solid years in Chicago. I was surprised to see him go, but Darnell Savage was a first-round pick, started out really hot in his career with Green Bay, and then you’ve seen him bounce around the last couple of years.”
That may come as a surprise to some, especially given the amount of money the Steelers invested into each player. Brisker signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal while Savage only signed for the veteran minimum.
That isn’t to say Savage can’t or won’t earn a starting job this summer, but their production also leans in Brisker’s favor.
Brisker recorded 93 tackles (52 solo), one sack, eight passes defensed and one interception last season and Savage finished the year with just 18 tackles (10 solo), one forced fumble and three passes defensed.
“Brisker gives you stability. He gives you solid play. Savage has more ball skills,” Hunt continued. “If you want your safety to be more around the football, making a lot more please, Savage may prove to be that guy, but if you want someone that may not give up the big play and may keep you honest defensively, Brisker could be that guy. That’s why I feel like this is the big battle to watch in Pittsburgh.”
Only time will tell who will ultimately win the job, but it would be very difficult to argue that Brisker isn’t the favorite, given his draft capital, investment and most recent production.
The No. 48 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, Brisker has 342 tackles (214 solo), seven sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 21 passes defensed and four interceptions in his professional career.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Analyst Tabs Surprising Steelers Training Camp Battle
