Steelers Still Have A Big Question On Defense

The Pittsburgh Steelers have made some significant upgrades on defense during the 2026 offseason. The offense was the priority and received most of the attention, but the defense still got its fair share of investment. The secondary, in particular, should see a big improvement in 2026 compared to 2025, with players like Jamel Dean and Jaquan Brisker being added to the unit.

Dean is a big physical corner who excels in man coverage and was the top corner on a Super Bowl-winning team. Brisker is a physical, Swiss Army Knife-type player who can play a few different roles.

The secondary was already solid in 2025, but the safeties proved to be a huge detriment to the team. By the time the playoffs rolled around, they were borderline unplayable. Now with DeShon Elliott returning from injury, and Brisker being added to the room with some youth and speed, the strong safeties should be much better in 2026. 

However, the Steelers still have a major question in the secondary that will need to be answered. Otherwise, it could be more of the same in 2026, with the defense becoming a defeated unit.

Steelers beat writer Christopher Carter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently appeared on an episode of his show, The North Shore Drive, where he discussed a big question in the team's secondary. Carter pointed out the hole at the free safety position, mentioning that they have failed to invest in it. Brisker and Elliott are strong safeties who play more in the box, and Jalen Ramsey is a cornerback who tried to learn the safety position, but it didn't go as planned.

"If I'm the Steelers, I am wondering, who's my deep safety when I need that role filled?

The Steelers drafted a free safety in the fifth round, Robert Spears-Jennings, who has great size and athleticism. Spears will likely make the team due to the lack of depth at free safety, but it's highly unlikely he starts or even plays, given that he's just a fifth-round pick. 

Meaning, unless a move is made before the season, Ramsey will likely be given another try at safety. It didn't work out all too well in 2025, but Ramsey is a Hall of Fame-caliber player who is more than capable of making the switch. 

With Patrick Graham now running the defense, players should be put in better spots. Mike McCarthy has already said the scheme will be the same, as the team is planning to run the 3-4. The only thing that needs to change is the coverage, which puts way too much pressure on the free safety in the base Cover 3. In 2026, the Steelers ran more man coverage, mostly out of Cover 1, with just one deep safety, which needs to change. Two high safeties are the way to play defense now; the Steelers must adapt to that. 

Steelers Need To Adapt To A Two-High Scheme

Back in 2019-2023, the Steelers could get away with running one-high because they had Minkah Fitzpatrick roaming the field; now that he's gone, they need to protect themselves. With Ramsey being on the older side, it would be malpractice to ask him to play deep by himself or to bait an interception up the seam. 

Ramsey had just one pick in 2025, and it came in the second game of the season, perhaps letting him sit back would help him be more effective. Graham has some pretty good corners to work with: Joey Porter Jr., Dean, and Brandin Echols in the slot. 

He should rely on them more and take pressure off the safeties. With Organized Team Activities starting soon, we will get a better look at how Graham will deploy his defensive roster, at least from a positional standpoint. The schematics will likely come during training camp, where we will get to see what the defense will truly look like. 

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