
S · Pittsburgh Steelers
Height
5'11"
Weight
198 lbs
Age
28
College
Maryland
Draft
2019, Rd 1, #21
Experience
8 yrs
S Rank
#111 / 197
Grade this player:
| Year | Team | GP | INT | PD | Tkl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | ![]() | 97 | 10 | 41 | 371 |
| 2025 | ![]() | 12 | 0 | 3 | 18 |
| 2024 | ![]() | 13 | 1 | 6 | 51 |
| 2023 | ![]() | 10 |
Length
1 year
Total Value
$1.5M
Guaranteed
$188K
AAV
$1.5M/yr
The Steelers secured excellent value by landing Darnell Savage on a prove-it deal that earns a B+ CVI, representing a clear steal for a rotational safety at just $1.5M AAV. While Savage profiles as a rotational player rather than an every-down starter, his market rate should have commanded closer to $3-4M annually given his starting experience and coverage skills developed during his Green Bay tenure. At 27, Savage is entering his prime years and brings the kind of defensive back versatility that Mike Tomlin's system thrives on, making this minimal financial commitment even more appealing. The contract structure heavily favors Pittsburgh with only $200K guaranteed, creating zero long-term risk while giving Savage motivation to outperform his tier and potentially earn a larger payday. This is exactly the type of low-risk, high-upside move that contending teams should make—adding proven NFL talent at a discount while maintaining salary cap flexibility for bigger moves.
Darnell Savage earns a D for the Steelers at safety, a former first-round pick who has never lived up to the expectations of his draft position. Savage has been a journeyman safety who has shown some ball-hawking ability in flashes but has never put together a consistently productive stretch. His coverage has been exploitable, and his tackling has been inconsistent throughout his career. Pittsburgh brought him in hoping for veteran leadership in the secondary, and the on-field results have been middling. Savage is a player with first-round talent who has produced like a late-round pick.
No transactions found for this player.
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| 0 |
| 1 |
| 51 |
| 2022 | ![]() | 16 | 1 | 5 | 58 |
| 2021 | ![]() | 17 | 2 | 9 | 63 |
| 2020 | ![]() | 15 | 4 | 12 | 75 |
| 2019 | ![]() | 14 | 2 | 5 | 55 |
Updated Mar 19, 2026
Recent seasons are weighted more heavily in the overall performance grade.
D-
2025
(50% weight)
C-
2024
(30% weight)
D
2023
(20% weight)