Darnell Savage

Career StatsD

Year	Team	GP	INT	PD	Tkl
Career		97	10	41	371
2025		12	0	3	18
2024		13	1	6	51
2023		10

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

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.

Performance Analysis

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.