Seahawks make cornerback replacement higher priority? taken on the South Side

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Steven Nelson.

When the NFL owners' meetings conclude this week, a 17th games will be on every team's schedule. And for the Steelers, that opponent is expected to be the Seahawks.

That means the Steelers would have to face Russell Wilson, a quarterback they haven't beaten in the two times they've played each other in 2015 and 2019. That adds to an already highly talented list of quarterbacks the Steelers have to face in Josh Allen, the Offensive Rookie of the Year in Justin Herbert, and three NFL MVPs in Lamar Jackson, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes.

The Steelers' pass defense has ranked third in the NFL for two consecutive seasons, but now will be missing two of its primary cornerbacks as Steven Nelson was released last week and Mike Hilton signed with the Bengals in free agency.

The signing of Cameron Sutton keeps a capable starting cornerback on the roster, but that still leaves an important hole in the secondary that top-tier quarterbacks could exploit in key games during the 2021 season. The advantage of having Sutton is that his versatility makes him a viable option in the slot and as an outside cornerback.

But that still means Kevin Colbert needs to find another cornerback to fill a hole in the secondary. The only other cornerbacks on the roster are 2019 third round pick Justin Layne and undrafted second-year cornerback James Pierre. Neither have proven to be reliable starters yet and if they don't make the jump, those talented cornerbacks could have a field day targeting them.

But there are several capable replacements at cornerback still available in free agency and in the NFL Draft.

Buster Skrine, Brian Poole, Nickell Robey-Coleman, and D.J. Hayden would all bring experience as slot cornerbacks and could be signed for a reasonable contract to fit the Steelers' tight salary cap constraints.

 Outside cornerbacks like Richard Sherman would still prove expensive, but other veterans like A.J. Bouye, Quinton Dunbar, Casey Hayward, and Gareon Conley could better fit the Steelers' needs and cap limitations.

Meanwhile several interesting cornerback prospects project as capable replacements in the early rounds of the NFL Draft. While Patrick Surtain would be out of the Steelers' reach with the 24th overall pick and Jaycee Horn may have made his stock too high after a stellar pro day, Caleb Farley's back surgery could lower his stock enough for him to fall where the Steelers could select him.

Even outside of the first round, prospects like Eric Stokes, Asante Samuel Jr., Greg Newsome and Ifeatu Melifonwu all look like capable cornerbacks on tape with impressive athletic talents.

Between all the different options available over the next month, Colbert has plenty of options. And he only needs one to become a legitimate starter to play next to Sutton and Joe Haden. But the bottom line is that a move does need to be made. Gambling on simply Layne or Pierre making the jump could prove costly when the Steelers play work their way through a gauntlet of highly talented quarterbacks in 2021.

YOUR TURN: How should the Steelers address their cornerback vacancy? Through free agency? The NFL Draft? Both? 

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