The Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 NFL season has come to a close. Because the Steelers are among the 31 teams who did not finish fulfilling their ultimate goal, they are in the process of wrapping up their season and moving forward into 2024.

Since the Steelers conduct exit interviews with all their players, and the fact I have done these articles in the past, we thought we would do the same here at Steel Curtain Network. By outlining two players each day, we will be able to look at their season in retrospect as well as looking toward the future. Since Coach Tomlin has previously stated he starts his interviews with rookies and those heading into free agency, we will attempt to do the same to some degree. To start, we will pair the most recent draftees with another player at the same position (if possible) as we work through this process to eventually cover the entire Steelers roster.

Next up are safeties Keanu Neal and Trenton Thompson in the next-to-last grouping.

Keanu Neal

Position: Safety
Years with the Steelers: 1
Years in the NFL: 8
Contract Status: Signed through 2024
Contract Details: $2,710,000 salary cap hit for 2024. Would cost the Steelers $460,000 in dead money if released and save $2,250,000.
Games played in 2023: 9 regular season
Games started in 2023: 8 regular season
Snaps (regular season): 430 (defense), 81 (special teams)
PFF score: 59.6 (73rd of 95)
Notable stats: During the regular season, Neal had 50 tackles, a fumble recovery, 2 passes defensed, and an interception.

Notes: Getting his first interception in a Steelers uniform, Keanu Neal came down with the key pick in the end zone with only minutes from meaning against the Green Bay Packers. Unfortunately, his decision to bring it out of the end zone instead of taking the touchback ended up costing him the rest of the 2023 season with an injury to his ribs. While that decision was questionable, it also appears that Neal‘s fit in the Steelers defense may be as well. With the Steelers safeties not having the same success as the previous season, especially Minkah Fitzpatrick, it’s unclear if the Steelers want to or should run back there same group of safeties for 2024. How the Steelers handle the safety position during free agency may give fans an indication how much they plan on using Neal this upcoming season.

Trenton Thompson

Position: Safety
Years with the Steelers: 1
Years in the NFL: 2
Contract Status: Signed through 2024
Contract Details: $915,000 salary cap hit for 2024. Would cost the Steelers $0 in dead money if released and save $915,000.
Games played in 2023: 6 regular season
Games started in 2023: 1 regular season
Snaps (regular season): 212 (defense), 58 (special teams)
PFF score: 56.8 (DNQ for ranking)
Notable stats: During the regular season, Thompson had 33 tackles, 3 passes defensed, and an interception.

Notes: Originally signed to the practice squad to start the season, Trenton Thompson was elevated several times before being signed to the active roster in mid November. After appearing in six games, one of which he started in Week 12 against Cincinnati, Thompson suffered a neck injury and was the third Steelers safety to miss the final three games of the season along with Minkah Fitzpatrick and DeMonte Kazee with Keanu Neal already being placed on IR. Thompson was unable to go in the three regular season games and finally landed on IR when Damonte Kazee returned from his suspension. Playing adequately over the time he was called upon, Thompson will be back in the mix come training camp in an attempt to land back on the Steelers 53 man roster for 2024. Whether or not he can prove himself the best option as a depth piece will be the ultimate test.

Make sure you check back each day for another set of exit interviews. If you have missed any of the previous articles, they are listed here:

Broderick Jones & Chuks Okorafor
Joey Porter Jr. & Levi Wallace
Keeanu Benton & Montravius Adams
Darnell Washington & Rodney Williams
Nick Herbig & Markus Golden
Cory Trice Jr. & James Pierre
Spencer Anderson & Dylan Cook
Kenny Pickett & Mason Rudolph
George Pickens & Miles Boykin
DeMarvin Leal & Armon Watts
Calvin Austin III & Allen Robinson
Connor Heyward & Godwin Igwebuike
Mark Robinson & Blake Martinez
Najee Harris & Jaylen Warren
Pat Freiermuth & Diontae Johnson
Dan Moore Jr. & Mason Cole
Isaiahh Loudermilk & Larry Ogunjobi
Pressley Harvin & Christian Kuntz
Kwon Alexander & Mykal Walker
Miles Killebrew & Elijah Riley
Chandon Sullivan & Darius Rush
Cam Heyward & Patrick Peterson
Isaac Seumalo & Nate Herbig
Alex Highsmith & Kyron Johnson
Elandon Roberts & Cole Holcomb
James Daniels & Mitch Trubisky
T.J. Watt & Chris Boswell
Minkah Fitzpatrick & Damontae Kazee