The Next Potential Steelers' Safety That Nobody’s Talking About

Story by Yinzer Crazy Co-Founder Mike Nicastro. Follow him on Twitter @MikedUpSports1

Honey Badger, this. Honey Badger, that. I get it. And I think most fans in and around Pittsburgh are aroused at the thought of Tyrann Mathieu and Minkah Fitzpatrick playing together in what would arguably comprise the best safety combination that the league has seen in quite some time. Rightfully so. 

Mathieu confirmed the mutual interest on The Jordy Culotta Radio Show, back in his hometown of Baton Rouge, mentioning that Steelers’ Head Coach Mike Tomlin had been in touch with him recently via phone call. One can assume that wasn’t just about where the best dinner spot in Louisiana is (although Tomlin has been dining out just about every night on his pro day tour).

However, there are some concerns with Mathieu. For starters, he won’t come cheap. At the start of Free Agency, Pro Football Focus projected that the former All-Pro safety would command a contract in the range of 3 years, 50 million dollars. That’s almost 17 mil per year, and would likely come with over 20 mil guaranteed. Can you really give Minkah Fitzpatrick the long-term extension he desires and deserves if you have that contract on the books? 

I’m not so sure. 

The Honey Badger will turn 30 this year. This offseason, Kevin Colbert hasn’t signed anyone above the age of 26. 

So naturally, let’s talk about someone who is 29. According to ESPN beat reporter Jeremy Fowler, the Steelers’ have shown interest in Cowboy’s safety Damontae Kazee.

Nobody wants to be a “back-up” plan. If the Steelers signed Kazee and not Mathieu, he may immediately be the most disliked member of the organization. But he certainly wouldn’t be a back up on the roster, and he just might be in the team’s plans moving forward for good reason. 

Kazee was a significant contributor to the Cowboys’ much improved defense last season. But the two years prior were some of the lowest points in his life.

In 2020, with the Atlanta Falcons, he tore his achilles in early October, and was forced to miss the remainder of the season. The prior season he was on top of the world, as he led the NFL in interceptions. 

And then this past October, Kazee was arrested in Dallas and charged with driving under the influence. The story became notorious when it was later revealed that Kazee “name-dropped” his teammates Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott after he was pulled over - likely in an attempt to get out of the violation.

In a game shortly thereafter, Giants wide receiver Kadarius Toney decided to let Kazee know how disappointed he was in him: