Steelers sign safety Burnett
PITTSBURGH 鈥� The Steelers continued their low-key approach to free agency Tuesday by signing safety Morgan Burnett to a three-year contract for a reported $14.5 million.
The signing of Burnett comes on the heels of the Steelers signing linebacker Jon Bostic. Both players have a recent history of nagging injuries, with the 29-year-old Burnett missing 10 games in the last three seasons due to groin, hamstring and calf issues.
Burnett is a 6-1, 209-pound safety who鈥檚 spent multiple seasons at both free and strong safety for the Green Bay Packers. He made nine solo tackles last year against the Steelers and finished with 68 tackles in 12 starts.
Burnett said he signed with the Steelers because of 鈥淭he history of Pittsburgh, the tradition. 鈥� Coming from Green Bay it was the same tradition.鈥�
A third-round pick out of Georgia Tech in 2010 (71st pick), Burnett started the opener of his rookie season but didn鈥檛 play in the Super Bowl against the Steelers that season after being placed on injured reserve (ACL) following the fourth game.
Burnett started the 2011 season at strong safety, was moved to free safety in 2012 and back to strong safety in 2014. According to Packers Report publisher Bill Huber, Burnett鈥檚 primary position last season was 鈥渓inebacker in the dime,鈥� which was dubbed the Nitro by the Packers and was their most-used package.
Burnett鈥檚 second job was box safety in the nickel, according to Huber. 鈥淭hen the slot. Deep safety was waaaaaaay down the list.鈥�
Burnett even wore the 鈥済reen dot鈥� on his helmet as the hub of communication with the sideline. He called the defensive plays, which is primarily the job of a linebacker.
鈥淚t鈥檚 normally for linebackers,鈥� Burnett said. 鈥淲hen they brought it to me, I was kind of like, 鈥榃hoa, that鈥檚 nothing I鈥檓 used to doing.鈥� But it doesn鈥檛 take long. The only thing you鈥檙e doing is repeating what you hear in your helmet. Sometimes it can be a tongue-twister, but you鈥檝e got to improvise and make sure everyone gets it right.鈥�
So, while Burnett will no doubt be trumpeted as the Steelers鈥� next free safety鈥� it鈥檚 possible he鈥檒l replace William Gay at the dime linebacker position.
鈥淭hey haven鈥檛 said anything yet,鈥� Burnett said of his specific position. 鈥淚鈥檓 just coming in, like I said, everything鈥檚 new. I鈥檓 coming in to do my job the best I can do, wherever I fit, to be accountable as a teammate and earn the respect of the coaches and get into a routine with the rest of the fellas.鈥�
In his eight-year career, Burnett has 718 tackles, nine interceptions, 46 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles and 7.5 sacks.
Former NFL scout Matt Williamson described Burnett this way:
鈥淰ersatile enough to do pretty much anything asked of him, and quite credibly. Burnett is more of a strong safety. He鈥檚 a steady player and a strong positive influence in the locker room. An accomplished veteran such as Burnett could prove to be very valuable behind the scenes for a young secondary, as well as to a probable high draft pick at the safety position. Burnett has played a lot of football but don鈥檛 think he鈥檚 near the end of the line. As was the case with the entirety of Green Bay鈥檚 secondary, Burnett wasn鈥檛 at his very best in 2017. Still, he just turned 29 in January, and with his savvy should be a major contributor for the next several seasons at least. It isn鈥檛 uncommon to see crafty safeties playing well into their mid 30s. Burnett would contribute equally in zone or man coverage and probably would immediately supplant Davis as Pittsburgh鈥檚 answer for opposing tight ends in man coverage. Burnett also is a far better player versus the run than any safety on Pittsburgh鈥檚 roster, and is an excellent tackler. Burnett would be a glue guy for the Steelers in very many ways.鈥�