The Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly have been working hard to find a way to sign superstar defender T.J. Watt to a contract extension as of late. On Tuesday, they managed to sign a key defender to a new deal, but it was starting safety DeShon Elliott rather than Watt.
After spending time with the Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins to start his career, Elliott signed a two-year contract with the Steelers in free agency last offseason. As a result, he was set to enter the final year of his deal in 2025. Clearly, the front office didn’t want to take any chances when it came to letting him potentially hit the open market.
In 2024, Elliott racked up a career-high 108 tackles despite missing a pair of games. He also had one interception, six passes batted, and two forced fumbles along the way. Working alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick, Elliott thrived and Pittsburgh seemed to have found its new safety duo.
With that in mind, the team moved quickly to sign Elliott to a new deal before the start of the season. Their efforts paid off on Tuesday when it was announced that Elliott put pen to paper on a new three-year deal. Financial terms weren’t immediately available.
“The Steelers signed safety DeShon Elliott to a new three-year contract,” the Steelers announced in a story published to their official website.
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With Elliott and Fitzpatrick manning the back of Pittsburgh’s defense, the Steelers appear to be well stocked at this spot moving forward. Add in Darius Slay Jr. and Joey Porter Jr. at cornerback, and their secondary looks pretty strong ahead of the new season.
Of course, all eyes will be on Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers’ new-look offense in 2025. However, even if that unit struggles, Pittsburgh should be able to remain competitive, thanks in large part to its defense, which will now feature Elliott for the long haul.
Featured image via Katie Stratman/Imagn Images