Cornerback position as of right now...

[Scunge]

Losing Mike Hilton and Steven Nelson this offseason created a lot of uncertainty in the cornerback group. What would the Steelers do about it? I expected them to draft a CB with one of those 4th round picks. The draft didn't really work out that way, they end up drafting a CB in round 7 and adding a couple of UDFAs after the draft.

Just as with the offensive tackles, I believe that the Steelers have more confidence in the CBs that they had on their team before the draft even started.

Everyone talks of Justin Layne and James Pierre, but it doesn't just end with them. The Steelers made two quiet, stealthy signings that have really gone under the radar for most, they really aren't talked about, most don't even know their names.

Stephen Denmark was a former 7th round pick of the Bears. He is this big, tall athletic freak of a CB, but he is raw. Denmark is 6'2" 217, ran a 4.46 with a 43 inch vertical.

The other signing they made was Trevor Williams. The past two years have been very quiet for him, but he started his career with the Chargers and in those 3 years he played in 37 games with 27 games as a starter. He had 3 INTs for 114 yards, 22 passes defensed, 110 tackles, 93 solo, 4 tackles for loss, 1 fumble recovery.

Williams is 5'11" 191, he ran a 4.44 and had a 35.5 vertical, and a 3 cone of 6.80. Now, I am not saying Williams is going to threaten Cam Sutton as a starter at CB, but might he not be a decent slot CB? He has the speed and athleticism and he has considerable experience.

Austin the secondary coach had Haden and Sutton, and also, Justin Layne, James Pierre, Trevor Williams, and Stephen Denmark. Maybe the Steelers felt like they had a lot of depth and talent to work with and that spending a high pick or a even a 4th rounder was overkill?

[Steeldrama]

I’m not all that worried about corner.
(None of it really matters so long as Tombert here)
I think Colbert will bring in a free agent on the cheap
Maybe even Steven Nelson.

Even if he doesn’t, I really like the UDFAs they signed.

Now that said when the Steelers traded into Rd 5 I was sure it was for nickel corner Shaun Wade from their farm team over in Columbus, Ohio.
I couldn’t have been more punch to the draft gut wrong.

As for Denmark,
Some guys are just wonderful athletes but just aren’t football players.
Nothing wrong at taking a dart throw and hoping for a bullseye.
My former student Josh Imatorbhebhe signed with the Jags as an UDFA.
‘47 vert in HS could dunk a basketball when I taught him in 5th grade.
He’s going to be like the Stephen Denmark’s of the NFL.
He will get numerous opportunities based on elite measurables until the league learns he’s just not a natural football player.

[SteelerDayTrader]

I think the Steelers feel comfortable with Haden Sutton Pierre at CB.

After that who knows. Gilbert Denmark Brown Layne Williams are probably all competing for one or two spots tops. Of those Im guessing Gilbert and Williams have the best chance.

It would really be great if we could develop one of those guys and avoid a premium pick need next year.

[meanjustinbarlow]

Gotta wonder if Nelson or Brian Poole arent going to get offers from the Steelers now.

They can make cap room with some restructures. More voidable year stuff.

[steelmann58]

I think that was Colbert plan adding a CB after the comp formula ended today.

[Ice]

I'm much more confident in us signing FA help in the secondary than firing off premium draft picks at the problem. It's just not something we've done well recently, whereas Haden, Nelson, Fitz... we do pretty well going the trade/FA route.

[Charles Demarr]

Shakur Brown is a nice player too. Hard to believe he went undrafted.

[cop1211]

Brown looks slowww.