News surfaced a few days ago that the Pittsburgh Steelers would be re-signing scheduled unrestricted free agent safety Damontae Kazee and that has now apparently happened.
According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston on Twitter Thursday night, Kazee signed a two-year, $6 million contract to return to the Steelers in 2023. As part of that deal, Wilson reports that Kazee received a $1.75 million signing bonus and base salaries in 2023 and 2024 of $1.25 million and $3 million, respectively.
Kazee’s cap charges in 2023 and 2024 are set to be $2.125 million and $3.875 million, respectively. His contract is an even cash split of the $6 million total as he is set to earn $3 million in 2023 and another $3 million in 2024.
Kazee, who signed with the Steelers last offseason on a one-year veteran benefit deal, started the 2022 regular season on the Reserve/Injured list thanks to a forearm injury sustained during the preseason. Because of that injury, he didn’t make his regular season debut until Week 10, after the team’s bye.
In half a season, Kazee registered 20 total tackles, two interceptions, and two passes defensed. He played 273 defensive snaps and 58 special teams snaps. In coverage, he was targeted 11 times and allowed seven completions for 79 yards. Kazee seemed like a natural fit in the Steelers’ defense in 2022 and especially when he was part of the three safety packages used.
