Cornerback

[Steeldrama]

Mel Blount

Rod Woodson

Joey Porter Jr?

(I hope y’all are right about this kid).

The rest of the secondary?

Hot mess

Tomlin’s area of expertise.

(Insert Mutley laugh here)

I would’ve shown Teryl Austin the door right after Canada, but since it’s Tomlin’s defense I guess there was really no point.

Anyway, ASSUMING Joey Jr becomes the first, the one, the only corner to be developed in Tomlin’s 17…that’s 17…years as Steelers head coach can we get greedy and HOPE he develops a second?

THAT is risky business

I don’t even feel comfortable allowing Tomlin to sign a free agent corner after badly whiffing on the likes of Levi Wallace and Pat Pete.

BUT

My guess is they’ll try anyway:

• L’Jarius Sneed KC- I’ll just assume that even if their teams allow them to hit the open market, both Jaylon Johnson and board favorite Sneed here will be out of the Steelers price range. Would be nice to be wrong, but I highly doubt they’ll be targeted by YOUR Pittsburgh Steelers.
• Kyle Fuller Skins- Whole Virginia thing
• Kenny Moore Colts- Nickel corner had two pick 6’s in one game this year.
• Keisean Nixon Packers- Dig this one. Can play anywhere in secondary type.
• Dane Jackson Bills- Another can play anywhere type.
• Tavierre Thomas Texans- Demeco Ryans can flat out coach.
• Sean Murphy Bunting Titans- This feels like the Steelers’ wheelhouse. Solid nothing spectacular.
• Chidobe Awuzie Bengals- Poach from division rival
• Steve Nelson Texans- Didn’t he kinda leave on bad terms? Played quite well with young stud Stingley and Baylor Bear Jalen Pitre.
• Amik Robertson Raiduhs- Former LA tech teammate of Sneed.
• Kindle Vildor Lions- Started some games but Charles’ Lions will be looking to upgrade.
• Stephon Gilmore Cowboys- No more old dudes please.
• Adoree Jackson Giants- Another nickel candidate. He used to be fast.
• Ahkello Witherspoon Rams- He and Kevin Dotson both played quite well for Sean McVay. Shocking
• Jeff Okudah Falcons- Former Buckeye busted as 3rd overall pick with Lions. Reclamation project.
• CJ Henderson Panthers- Another 1st rd bust reclamation project.
• Noah Igbinoghene Cowboys- Another 1st rd bust reclamation project.
• Kristian Fulton Titans- Another 1st rd bust reclamation project.
• I’m sure the Steelers will dig deeper (cheaper) than this, but this was all I could stomach.

Work Your Magic, Mike:

• Terrion Arnold Bama- Combine will be interesting for this converted safety.
• Quinyon Mitchell Toledo- “Rocket”-ed up the draft board. Could be top CB drafted if he tests well.
• Nate Wiggins Clemson- Could be top CB drafted if he tests well.
• Cooper Dejean Iowa- Chess piece for a creative…never mind. Not working out at combine. Still recovering from leg injury.
• Kool Aid- Mckinstry Bama- Will Steelers draft a corner or OL in rd 1? THAT is the question
• Ennis Rakestraw Mizzou- Ennis (Enos) YOU DIPSTICK! You’ll never get the reference.
• Kamari Lassiter Georgia- Two time NATTY winner needs a solid 40 time to sniff rd 1.
• TJ Tampa Iowa St- Tall dude also needs to run well at combine.
• Kalen King Penn St- Porter Jr's boy, but y’all said he sucks so I’m just bracing myself for him to be a Steeler.
• DJ James Auburn- Kid needs to eat a sandwich but he can cover
• Mike Sainristil- scUM- Ideal slot corner from the National Champs (insert vomit emoji here)
• Kris Abrams-Draine Mizzou- WR convert like the before mentioned Sainristil kid.
• Caelen Carson Wake- The kind of good tackler the Steelers used to like way back when.
• Josh Newton TCU- Don’t know much other than I see him mocked day 2 a lot.
• Max Melton Rutgers- Bo’s brother. Senior Bowl standout.
• Cam Hart Irish- Bigger corner. Another Senior Bowl standout.
• Khyree Jackson Ducks- Another bigger corner and Senior Bowl standout.
• Renardo Green Florida St- Acquitted himself well against LSU studs
• Jarvis Brownlee Louisville- Slot option/Senior Bowl standout
• Chau Smith-Wade ‘Cougs- Slot option/Senior Bowl standout
• Carlton Johnson Fresno St- Slot option/Senior Bowl standout
• Johnny Dixon Penn St- Joey Porter/Penn St
• Dequan Hardy Penn St- Joey Porter/Penn St
• MJ Devonshire Pitt- Let’s get a Pitt kid in here.
• The rest I leave up to YOU and the wildly popular board draft

Thanks as always for reading. Please comment on the players you like and those you don’t. I wish I trusted Tomlin to actually develop corners like ohhh I don’t know the back to back Super Bowl Champion Chiefs? Anyway, most of the mocks I’ve read have the Steelers going corner or OL in round 1 (Really, the Steelers need multiple corners and multiple OL). Hopefully, Weidl-Khan locks Tomlin out of the draft room and gets the player right regardless of position.

[bradshaw2ben]

I think there are more than 20 starter-capable CBs in this class. As per usual, that'll be one of the easiest parts of draft-a-team.

[Mick]

I think there are more than 20 starter-capable CBs in this class. As per usual, that'll be one of the easiest parts of draft-a-team.

if you take out the guys that are too small to play defense in the nfl and the overage guys who still weren’t that good in college, i count…13 total? CBs going to the combine?

[PennyBacker]

Keisean Nixon definitely has appeal.

Overall though, would prefer them not to do a dumpster dive for a FA CB.

I am warm to the idea of a Terrell Edmunds reunion for safety, and to leave veteran Patrick Peterson at CB.

[bradshaw2ben]

Keisean Nixon definitely has appeal.

Overall though, would prefer them not to do a dumpster dive for a FA CB.

I am warm to the idea of a Terrell Edmunds reunion for safety, and to leave veteran Patrick Peterson at CB.

Do you see Trice being a SS, a big nickel, a slot, an outside CB, or a non-factor? I think Edmunds played better than what they got last year but I think Trice might be a guy who fits that spot. I don't think Pittsburgh will be a super attractive FA destination for any good player who has options but they might be able to get an aging guy, somebody in it for the money, or someone who deserves a chance to start but doesn't have offers to start elsewhere.

[jebrick]

If Trice can stay out of the training room, I think outside but that has been the issue for him so far.

And You do not have Shon Stephen on the list. D2 Cb, led the NCAA in interceptions. JPJ's cousin. and the Steeler have met with him.

[steelmann58]

I think they will add a FA Cb upgrade over Wallace plus a draft pick

[Charles Demarr]

Double dipping at CB this year if not triple.

I agree, Sean Murphy Bunting is the likely FA pickup to replace Wallace. I’ll guess a Melton, Hart or Jackson type pick in the 3rd round.

[ol skool]

Double dipping at CB this year if not triple.

I agree, Sean Murphy Bunting is the likely FA pickup to replace Wallace. I’ll guess a Melton, Hart or Jackson type pick in the 3rd round.

Sign me up for Cam Hart. I’d consider it highway robbery in the 3rd.

[Ice]

I'd dig Devonshire as a nickel. Be nice to sign a few of the actually good Pitt players. This could be a start.

[Charles Demarr]

Double dipping at CB this year if not triple.

I agree, Sean Murphy Bunting is the likely FA pickup to replace Wallace. I’ll guess a Melton, Hart or Jackson type pick in the 3rd round.

Sign me up for Cam Hart. I’d consider it highway robbery in the 3rd.

Yeah, probably wishful thinking on my part. I would expect a solid combine from him this week.

[PennyBacker]

Keisean Nixon definitely has appeal.

Overall though, would prefer them not to do a dumpster dive for a FA CB.

I am warm to the idea of a Terrell Edmunds reunion for safety, and to leave veteran Patrick Peterson at CB.

Do you see Trice being a SS, a big nickel, a slot, an outside CB, or a non-factor? I think Edmunds played better than what they got last year but I think Trice might be a guy who fits that spot. I don't think Pittsburgh will be a super attractive FA destination for any good player who has options but they might be able to get an aging guy, somebody in it for the money, or someone who deserves a chance to start but doesn't have offers to start elsewhere.

My vision for the secondary is to enable Minkah Fitzpatrick to be the best version of himself. He is the superstar, assemble the remaining pieces around him as best as possible.

Yet in that construction, it is also worthwhile to recognize that Pittsburgh has gotten a lot of contributions out of players like Deshea Townsend, William Gay and Ryan Clark. Players whose statistics &/or combine numbers might not jump out, but who can lock down critical roles on Super Bowl winning teams. Glue guys who are spectacular at being unspectacular – if that can even make sense. Terrell Edmunds might be viewed as a guy who could fit that profile.

I would envision Trice as a boundary corner, but am a bit ambivalent on him and to a lesser extent Darius Rush, who was frequently inactive after he was plucked off the Chiefs practice squad. Love the size and measurables, but a dearth of functional impact.

Yes, Trice has the desired size to be a safety, but success in the NFL is so difficult to attain as it is, he likely washes out before he finds any level of comfort. Going back to the idea of maximizing a guy like Minkah Fitzpatrick, for me it would take quite a bit of convincing that a Trice transition to safety would in sum be the best allocation of resources.

[bradshaw2ben]

I think there are more than 20 starter-capable CBs in this class. As per usual, that'll be one of the easiest parts of draft-a-team.

if you take out the guys that are too small to play defense in the nfl and the overage guys who still weren’t that good in college, i count…13 total? CBs going to the combine?

Size at CB ain't what it used to be (see Emmanuel Forbes at 170lbs!), but even taking that into account, I've got 18 or 19 who aren't tiny and have a good shot.

[Mick]

I think there are more than 20 starter-capable CBs in this class. As per usual, that'll be one of the easiest parts of draft-a-team.

if you take out the guys that are too small to play defense in the nfl and the overage guys who still weren’t that good in college, i count…13 total? CBs going to the combine?

Size at CB ain't what it used to be (see Emmanuel Forbes at 170lbs!), but even taking that into account, I've got 18 or 19 who aren't tiny and have a good shot.

forbes isn’t a great example; he was probably the worst player on the worst defense in the nfl last season (when he wasn’t benched), and supposedly they had him up to 180 pounds. At least Forbes was young, so the idea that he could add significant weight as he developed into his adult speed wasn’t completely crazy. Where 23 year old dudes that are keeping their weight at 170 to keep up with college WRs are pretty DOA to me for being able to transition to the NFL.

But if you meant “20 guys that have a shot at being NFL starters”, sure. I’d say 5-10 with a good shot and another 10-15 with not so good a shot, but that’s what late round picks are for.

[cop1211]

I’ll take Malik Mustapha as a slot CB, and back up safety. I’ll also take Renaldo Green, who can play outside, or inside. As my two 4th round picks.

[bradshaw2ben]

if you take out the guys that are too small to play defense in the nfl and the overage guys who still weren’t that good in college, i count…13 total? CBs going to the combine?

Size at CB ain't what it used to be (see Emmanuel Forbes at 170lbs!), but even taking that into account, I've got 18 or 19 who aren't tiny and have a good shot.

forbes isn’t a great example; he was probably the worst player on the worst defense in the nfl last season (when he wasn’t benched), and supposedly they had him up to 180 pounds. At least Forbes was young, so the idea that he could add significant weight as he developed into his adult speed wasn’t completely crazy. Where 23 year old dudes that are keeping their weight at 170 to keep up with college WRs are pretty DOA to me for being able to transition to the NFL.

But if you meant “20 guys that have a shot at being NFL starters”, sure. I’d say 5-10 with a good shot and another 10-15 with not so good a shot, but that’s what late round picks are for.

I've got 3 top 15, 6 more 20-52, 6 more 64-106, 8 more 117-200. That's 23 through the first half of day 3, and none of them are under 180lbs And for context, only 4 names there are outside Power 5, and no FCS/D2/D3 or anything like that.

[steelmann58]

They might go Toledo Cb round 1 and Mich Nickel Round 3

[Mick]

For the ‘none under 180’, seems a bit early to say? Not going by listed weight i hope. E.g., listed at 6’0” 195 lb Caelen Carson who actually measured 5’10” 169 lbs at the senior bowl.

[Charles Demarr]

They might go Toledo Cb round 1 and Mich Nickel Round 3

My dream scenario would be Quinyon at 20 and Zach Frazier round 2. I don't think either will be available.

Mikey Saintrisil is going in round 2. The guy reminds me so much of Mike Hilton.

[jebrick]

They might go Toledo Cb round 1 and Mich Nickel Round 3

My dream scenario would be Quinyon at 20 and Zach Frazier round 2. I don't think either will be available.

Mikey Saintrisil is going in round 2. The guy reminds me so much of Mike Hilton.

I think Q. Mitchell will be the first CB off the board in the teens but perhaps being MAC and him being raw will have him fall to 20. It is one pick I would not mind that is not a trench pick in the 1st. That could have Wiggins fall to the Steelers. Not sure if I am high on him as that. Depends who is on the board

[jebrick]

Tyler Owens from Texas Tech said that he does not believe in space or planets and that the flat earthers have some valid points in his press interview.

But he is expected to run fast.

[Charles Demarr]

They might go Toledo Cb round 1 and Mich Nickel Round 3

My dream scenario would be Quinyon at 20 and Zach Frazier round 2. I don't think either will be available.

Mikey Saintrisil is going in round 2. The guy reminds me so much of Mike Hilton.

I think Q. Mitchell will be the first CB off the board in the teens but perhaps being MAC and him being raw will have him fall to 20. It is one pick I would not mind that is not a trench pick in the 1st. That could have Wiggins fall to the Steelers. Not sure if I am high on him as that. Depends who is on the board

That 4.33 assures Q won’t be available at pick 20.

[jebrick]

I would guess at least 3 CBs taken before 20. Arnold, Wiggins, Mitchell. I am not a fan of Kool-aid