In 2002, the Steelers' starting safeties were the hard-hitting but unathletic -- by NFL standards -- duo of Lee Flowers and Brent Alexander.
So the team went into the 2003 draft looking to upgrade their speed at the position. That led to the team's historic move up in the draft to acquire Troy Polamalu.
It took a year for Polamalu to become a full-time starter -- and star -- and the Steelers are hoping 2018 first-round pick Terrell Edmunds can make a similar jump in his second season.
Edmunds has the athleticism of Polamalu. But Polamalu's trademark instincts are something that set him apart and will likely lead to his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame next year.
Unlike Polamalu, who played sparingly as a rookie, leading some to call him a bust after one year, Edmunds got plenty of playing time at strong safety in 2018. And his partner at free safety, Sean Davis, also was learning on the job after starting the previous two seasons at strong safety.
The Steelers have high hopes for that young duo moving forward, maybe not Polamalu-type hopes, but expectations that they'll take a big step forward in 2019. But, after the release of Morgan Burnett last week, the depth behind them is lacking, with Marcus Allen and Jordan Dangerfield having limited reps as defensive players.
That and the fact Davis is heading into the final year of his contract could lead the Steelers to target a safety in the early portion of the NFL Draft, which begins April 25.
There are a number of interesting prospects available, depending on what kind of safety a team needs. The Steelers, looking for guys who can take the ball away, could certainly find another player to add to the mix in this draft.
Washington's Taylor Rapp plays a lot like Polamalu, making plays all over the field based on his obvious great understanding of the game and what opponents are trying to accomplish. But while Polamalu had 4.4-second speed in the 40-yard dash, Rapp disappointed last week at the Huskies' Pro Day by running in the 4.7s.
Looking past that, however, you see a player who ran an outstanding 3.99-second 20-yard shuttle, showing he's very good at changing direction on the fly. And his game tape matches that, as he's a capable playmaker all over the field.
Rapp played strong and free safety for the Huskies and also lined up in the slot. In three seasons, he recorded 168 tackles, six sacks and seven interceptions.
"I think I can do everything on the back end. I think my biggest asset is my versatility, and I think I can do everything," he said. "I can cover a deep third, I can cover a deep half, I can roll down to the box, I can go the alley and tackle. I can blitz, I can cover receivers, I can cover the slot, I can cover a tight end. I think I'm the complete package."
Rapp is joined atop the strong safety board by Mississippi State's Jonathan Abraham and Iowa's Amani Hooker, a pair of thumpers.
For teams looking for deep safeties, this is an interesting group, led by Delaware's Nasir Adderley, Alabama's Deionte Thompson, Virginia's Juan Thornhill and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson of Florida.
In fact, it's such a good and diverse group, some are looking at Thornhill and Gardner-Johnson as cornerbacks because they've shown the ability to match up on receivers at the collegiate level.
"It’s big because you can put me anywhere," the 5-foot-11, 198-pound Gardner-Johnson said. "I’m not limited to one position. I can be in for base. I can be in for nickel. I can be in for nickel and cover down in the slot, be in the post, come off the hash, I can do anything coach puts me at no matter where I go.”
It would not be surprising if all seven of those players are selected in the first two rounds of the draft.
Another intriguing prospect is Maryland's Darnell Savage.
Savage ran a 4.38-second 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine and also displayed a 39.5-inch vertical leap to go along with a 4.14-second 20-yard shuttle time.
He recorded four interceptions last season for the Terrapins, adding 52 tackles and two other pass breakups. He had three interceptions in 2017 and returned two of his seven picks in the past two years for touchdowns.
Savage was one of the players his teammates leaned on last year at Maryland after the death of Jordan McNair of heat stroke, something that led to a coaching change and other upheaval within the program.
"I tried to transform my leadership role from someone who leads by example to someone who is more of a vocal leader," Savage said. "I think that helped me in the long run. I think that helped expand my play and expand my role."
There are a number of interesting safety prospects into the later rounds of this draft, as well, including Oregon's Ugo Amadi, Will Harris and Lukas Denis of Boston College and Kentucky's Darius West.
LOLLEY'S VIEW
With the value at this position in the second and third rounds, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Steelers take a safety there, even having used premium picks on Davis and Edmunds in the past three years.
Allen and Dangerfield are both more special-teams players than they are guys you want seeing serious time on your defense.
Both Cameron Sutton and Mike Hilton can play safety in a pinch but will be in the mix at the slot corner position, as well. Many of the safeties available in this draft played in the slot in college and they have the size and athleticism to do so at the NFL level.
Acquiring a player such as Savage, Rapp, Thornill or Gardner-Johnson in the second round, or with their early third-round selection, would help the pass defense in sub packages.