Re-evaluation: Steelers defensive backs were a mixed bag in 2024
Steel City Underground presents a post-2024 NFL season re-evaluation of each positional group on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster in this series, highlighting the standout player or players among each group.
During the 2024 NFL season, the Pittsburgh Steelers fielded a group of players in their defensive backfield that looked solid on paper. Truth proved that, overall, the cornerbacks and safeties were a mixed bag from week to week, though. Miscommunication issues boiled over late in the season despite the group allowing opponents an 87.5 passer rating. We look at how the personnel who made up this group fared and which individuals stood out among their peers.
DBs: Minkah Fitzpatrick, DeShon Elliott, Joey Porter Jr., Donte Jackson, Damontae Kazee, Miles Killebrew, Beanie Bishop, Cory Trice Jr., James Pierre, Cam Sutton, C.J. Henderson
The cornerbacks
Two corners – one addition to the roster via a trade and another a rookie – helped create a positive turnover ratio for the Steelers defense with their combined nine interceptions. Donte Jackson, acquired through the Carolina Panthers for receiver Diontae Johnson, recorded five while Beanie Bishop had four on the season.
Primarily lined up opposite Joey Porter Jr, Jackson’s catch rate allowed was 56.7 and he gave up four touchdowns and 15.6 yards per reception to opponents. Porter, in his second season, was not always tasked with shadowing the top receiver like he had his rookie season, but struggled with penalties (12) as his catch rate allowed was 63.5; he gave up 12.4 yards per receptions and no touchdowns. That zero TDs allowed ranked him in the No. 1 spot in the NFL in 2024 among corners.
Bishop was frequently used in the slot and showed quickness and awareness on the field, making his future look ever more promising with the Steelers.
Cory Trice Jr, in his second season, continued to try to make the most of losing the entirety of his rookie season due to injury. Despite playing in just six games, he recorded one interception, had two pass defenses, and 21 total tackles.
The safeties
Minkah Fitzpatrick saw his overall performance numbers drop off somewhat in 2024. The veteran had one interception on the season to go with a forced fumble in the first 17-game season of his career (active). He added a tackle for a loss and four pass breakups while recording 62 solo tackles (ranked 15th in the league). Fitzpatrick’s missed tackle rate was 4.0.
The addition of DeShon Elliott – a free agent addition during the offseason – was possibly the best signing in the Steelers backfield in some time. Although he missed two games due to injury, Elliott racked up 72 solo tackles (108 total) to trail only linebacker Patrick Queen (65, 129). In space, Elliott posted a missed tackle rate of 2.7, broke up six passes, forced two fumbles (recovered three), and logged four tackles for a loss.
That duo of Fitzpatrick and Elliott outperformed many safety tandems in the league, regardless.
Despite the mid-season return of Cameron Sutton to the team – utilized at safety and in the slot corner position – the suspension he served limited his playing time and did not appear to improve his on-field performance as much as many had anticipated. He started just 2 of 9 games and defended just three passes. He added just 15 total tackles on defense.
Third year safety Damontae Kazee played in 15 games, but got one start. He grabbed one interception, had two pass defenses, and 31 total tackles.
Related content: Re-evaluation: One Steeler stood out on defensive line
Final re-evaluation
James Pierre played almost exclusively in a backup roll in 2024 and saw just two starts. He was able to secure an interception in 11 and stood in when Jackson suffered an injury.
As a team captain, Killebrew remained mainly on special teams but logged 13 total tackles.
C.J. Henderson, brought over from the Panthers, didn’t make it onto a stat sheet on defense with the Steelers and was placed on I/R in November.
Do to blown coverages in the secondary, communication issues, and improper alignments late in the season former up-and-coming coach Grady Brown was given walking papers following the season. That led to the Steelers reaching out recently to a former Pittsburgh assistant DBs coach in Gerald Alexander (most recently with the Las Vegas Raiders).
In his previous stint with the Steelers, Alexander helped shape a Steelers defensive secondary that snagged 36 interceptions (ranked No. 2 in the league). During the 2023 NFL season, the Steelers were able to hold opponents to just an 84.7 passer rating.
With Sutton, Henderson, Kazee, Pierre, and Jackson slated unrestricted free agents this upcoming offseason, the Steelers will be playing close attention at the upcoming NFL’s annual scouting combine – and should be. Improvement in the secondary may not be as high of a priority to Art Rooney II as quarterback is, but it has to be a close second.
