Steelers Surprising Release Of Trenton Thompson Has More To It: "That Story Is A Little Bit Deeper Than That"

The Pittsburgh Steelers surprised many people when they announced recently that they were releasing safety Trenton Thompson. Thompson was signed by the Steelers before the 2023 season and initially spent time on the practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster after an injury to Minkah Fitzpatrick and had an interception against the Cincinnati Bengals.

One of Thompson's biggest fans is former Steelers linebacker Terence Garvin, who frequently appears on his former teammate Arthur Moats' podcast, The Arthur Moats Experience. In a recent episode, Moats asked Garvin about Thompson being let go. They were both impressed with Thompson's rangy form and athleticism. During the 2023 preseason, they felt he showed enough to warrant remaining on the team and made the most of the opportunities he got. 

Moats asked Garvin if he saw Thompson as "the odd man out" of the safety group, which he said primarily includes: Fitzpatrick, DeShon Elliott, Damontae Kazee, Cameron Sutton, special teams ace Miles Killebrew, and potentially, rookie Ryan Watts. Garvin said he thinks there is more to the story. 

"I think that story is a little bit deeper than that," said Garvin. "DeShon Elliott, he's a safety, but they'll put him in the slot. He sneaky, he rangy, he got some of that nickel type, that comes down as the cover safety. But I thought Trenton played that role. I don't think he was an OTA casualty. You see what I'm saying? More like 'Coach if y'all not gonna use me, let me get up out of here.' That's deeper, that story sounds like a bit deeper than, 'We didn't have no spot for you.'"

While Moats agrees with Garvin, he sees it as the Steelers trying to do Thompson a favor. Rather than allowing him to get buried in the depth chart, they released him early so he'd have a better shot with another team. Hopefully, he can get picked up and have a full training camp with a new team. That gives him a leg up on the players who get cut at the end of camp and are all competing for just a handful of jobs. 

Garvin said that is possible. However, from his perspective, it is always better to have a job than to be looking for one. He said it would be surprising for someone like Thompson to just walk away from a job. But he also knows that these players are competitors, and Thompson would want to have the chance to start somewhere.   

"It might not have been the best situation for him, either. It just sounds like, 'Alright, go ahead, we're not gonna use you, go be free.'"

He always impressed Garvin, who said he came to watch Thompson and his former teammate Kenny Robinson last year. Robinson, now in the XFL, attended West Virginia, Garvin's alma mater. He said he knew he was supposed to be there watching Robinson, but would constantly get distracted by Thompson's talent. 

Moats is right that the Steelers' secondary heading into training camp is well-stocked. However, beyond Fitzpatrick and Elliott, the depth is more questionable. Watts, a sixth-round selection this year, has been applauded for his versatility. He played cornerback, not safety, for Texas, so the exact way Pittsburgh will utilize him if he makes the roster isn't clear. 

Steelers' Ryan Watts Impresses With Size

Watts comes in at 6'3" and about 208 lbs., and Garvin and Moats said they were blown away by his size. Moats said that when he met him the first time, he couldn't believe how big he was and wondered if he was a cornerback or a safety, saying, "You could put someone to sleep." He said he is so tall, he looks more like a wide receiver than a safety. 

Garvin said that the safety position is evolving, and part of that leads to the size adapting, too. The days of having to hit hard or chop offensive players are gone. With the NFL's new safety rules, the safety is more like a quiet cornerback, said Garvin. 

What did you think when the Steelers released Thompson? Click to comment below. 

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