Steelers Sign Former First-Round Safety Darnell Savage

With safety one of their top remaining needs, the Pittsburgh Steelers finally addressed the position in free agency.

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Steelers have signed Darnell Savage to a one-year deal.

Veteran safety Darnell Savage is signing a one-year deal with the Steelers, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 11, 2026

According to Over the Cap, Savage's contract is worth a base salary of $1.3 million. If Pittsburgh were to cut or trade him, it would save $1.075 million against the cap while incurring $187,500 in dead money.

Savage Jr. is a former first-round pick out of Maryland who spent the first five seasons of his career with the Green Bay Packers from 2019 to 2023, spending four of those campaigns alongside Aaron Rodgers.

He appeared in 72 games, starting 69 of them, over that stretch while recording 302 total tackles with nine interceptions.

Savage went on to sign a three-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars ahead of the 2024 campaign worth $21.750 million, though he was cut less than two seasons into it in September 2025.

Aug 8, 2019; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers safety Darnell Savage Jr. (26) during the game against the Houston Texans at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

The 28-year-old caught on with the Washington Commanders and played in eight games for the team before being granted his release in December.

The Buffalo Bills subsequently claimed Savage off waivers, and he appeared in two regular season contests as well as the team's divisional round playoff matchup against the Denver Broncos.

Savage's 266 defensive snaps in 2025 were a career-low, and it was the first time he wasn't a full-time starter, but he's an experienced veteran who could help the Steelers make up for the potential losses of Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers and Chuck Clark, all of whom are free agents.

Where Steelers' Secondary Currently Stands

Savage joins DeShon Elliott, Sebastian Castro and Jalen Ramsey as Pittsburgh's current options at safety for the 2026 campaign, though the latter's role moving forward is unknown after he moved to safety in Week 9 last season.

At cornerback, the Steelers made a splash on the open market by signing Jamel Dean away from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a three-year, $36 million, pairing him with Joey Porter Jr. in the process.

Pittsburgh also re-signed corner Asante Samuel Jr. to a one-year contract worth $4 million shortly before the legal tampering period began, and Brandin Echols is also set to return for the second season of a two-year, $6 million deal he signed with the organization last March.

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