Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said during mandatory minicamp a couple weeks ago that the Pittsburgh Steelers need to do a better job of freeing up Minkah Fitzpatrick. If you look at his 2023 snap counts, he played more combined snaps in the box and in the slot than he did at his most impactful position of free safety. That was born out of necessity as Damontae Kazee is more of a free safety and the team didn’t have a true starting-caliber box safety.
Kazee was asked about the free agency signing of DeShon Elliott after one of the Spring practices, and thinks he can be the key to unlocking Fitzpatrick and freeing up the safeties to play to their strengths.