It wasn’t T.J. Watt, but the Pittsburgh Steelers signed a defensive starter to a new contract to begin this week.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Monday night that the Steelers agreed to a two-year, $12.5 million extension with safety DeShon Elliott. The deal will include $9.21 million guaranteed.
Elliott spent his first season with the Steelers last year. The safety arguably experienced his best NFL season while making 14 starts.
Elliott registered a career-best 108 combined tackles and three fumble recoveries. He also had six pass defenses, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two quarterback hits and an interception.
The Steelers signed Elliott to a two-year, $6 million contract last offseason. The safety now won’t become a free agent until 2028.
With the extension, Elliott’s average annual salary will more than double, going from $3 million to $6.25 million.
Steelers Sign Safety DeShon Elliott to Contract Extension
Elliott has grown into a solid NFL starter since being a Day 3 selection in the draft. But he was never a safety very well compensated by NFL standards.
Last year was the first time Elliott received a multi-year contract that wasn’t his rookie deal. Before 2024, Elliott was also always paid under $2 million per season.
The veteran, though, deserved a raise for his performance last year. Elliott became a very reliable starter in the Pittsburgh secondary. He was also a vocal leader in the team’s locker room.
The Baltimore Ravens selected Elliott at No. 190 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. He made his NFL regular season debut during the 2019 season.
Elliott earned a starting role on the Ravens defense in 2020. During that season, he started all 16 games.
In 2021, Elliott was playing the best football of his career up to that point. However, he suffered a quadriceps injury in early October and then landed on injured reserve about a month later because of biceps and pectoral ailments.
Following that season, the Ravens allowed Elliott to leave in free agency. He signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Detroit Lions.
Despite bouncing back with a strong 2022 campaign that saw him reach 96 combined tackles, Elliott again reached free agency.
History repeated itself again — Elliott signed a one-year deal for roughly league minimum with the Miami Dolphins in 2023. He played very well as a starter but reached free agency again the following spring.
That pattern has ended, though, with Elliott finding a home in Pittsburgh.
In 72 NFL games, Elliott has posted 395 combined tackles, including 16 tackles for loss. He also has 23 pass defenses, four interceptions and 3.5 sacks in his career.
Elliott turned 28 years old in April.
Steelers Safety Depth on Offseason Roster
With DeShon Elliott, Pittsburgh now has a strong pair of starting safeties. Elliott will again start next to former All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick this season.
The Steelers, though, hope Fitzpatrick can reach his All-Pro level again in 2025. Although Fitzpatrick earned Pro Bowl bids in 2023 and 2024, he didn’t make as many big plays.
Fitzpatrick has one interceptions in his last 27 starts.
Behind the pair of safeties, the Steelers have two more veterans in Miles Killebrew and Juan Thornhill. Killebrew made first-team All-Pro in 2023, but he almost exclusively plays on special teams.
Thornhill is entering his first season with the Steelers. He won two Super Bowls as part of the Kansas City Chiefs defense.
The fifth safety on Pittsburgh’s offseason roster is Sebastian Castro. The Steelers signed Castro as an undrafted free agent after this year’s draft.
