The new league year is over a week away, and the market for free agent safeties is already looking as good as it has ever been.
With ESPN's Adam Schefter's announcement of All-Pro safety Jordan Poyer's release from the Buffalo Bills earlier today, the market for talented safeties is arguably the deepest of all the positions available. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, the prospect of acquiring a player at this position almost seems inevitable.
Last season with the Bills, Poyer recorded 100 tackles with four pass deflections, a sack, and a forced fumble. In his nine career against the Steelers, Poyer has registered 24 solo tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and three interceptions. Prior to their playoff game, Poyer revealed on the Pat McAfee Show that his father was a Steelers fan growing up.
Poyer is one of several notable safety available on the free agent market, even though he seems like the ideal fit. Julian Blackmon of the Indianapolis Colts is one such instance. Recalling a stellar 2023 campaign in which he logged 46.6 passer rating allowed and 88 tackles, he would make an excellent combination with seasoned player Minkah Fitzpatrick. Unexpectedly becoming a free agent yesterday, former Giants safety Xavier McKinney is projected to be in high demand given his stats from the previous campaign: 94 tackles, 11 passes defensed, three interceptions, and an 87.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.
The Steelers could decide to spend draft capital on a safety in the upcoming draft. Yet, with the amount of talent that should be available when free agency starts, there is no better time for the team to save their picks and scoop one up.