Steelers on Bargain Deal to Sign Former 1st-Round Safety: Report

The Pittsburgh Steelers added depth to their safety position late Tuesday night by signing former first-round pick Darnell Savage—and they did it at a very affordable price.

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Steelers agreed to a one-year deal with Savage. Reports from Over the Cap, cited by Steelers Depot, say the contract includes a base salary of $1.3 million, which is the league minimum for the 2026 season.

Savage will also receive a $187,500 signing bonus, and his salary-cap hit for 2026 will be roughly $1.26 million.

Only two years ago, Savage was the starting safety for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Last season, he appeared in 12 games across three teams—the Jaguars, the Washington Commanders, and the Buffalo Bills.

Savage originally entered the league as the 21st overall pick in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, selected by the Green Bay Packers. He spent his first five seasons in Green Bay before moving to Jacksonville in 2024.

During the 2025 season, Savage recorded 18 total tackles, three pass breakups, and one forced fumble.

The Steelers will be able to officially finalize the signing at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, when the new NFL league year begins and free-agent deals can become official. Until then, the agreement remains unofficial and only agreed to in principle—similar to the situation surrounding the Baltimore Ravens trade for edge rusher Maxx Crosby reported Tuesday night.

By adding Savage, the Pittsburgh Steelers gain an experienced option and additional depth in their secondary. While some critics believe Savage never fully lived up to his first-round expectations—he has never been selected to the Pro Bowl or named an All-Pro—he was a dependable starter for several seasons.

Between 2019 and 2024, Savage started 82 of the 85 games he played, recording 353 total tackles, including 11 tackles for loss. He also broke up 38 passes and intercepted 10.

Savage returned to Jacksonville for a second stint last season but was released by the Jaguars in September. He later joined Washington, where he spent most of the year before being released again in December. He finished the season with Buffalo.