How the Steelers value the cornerback position is evolving taken in Indianapolis (Steelers)

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Christian Gonzalez runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

INDIANAPOLIS -- More than four months removed from it, but it's still something that irks Mike Tomlin and the Steelers.

A Sunday night loss in Miami was one of three winnable games in the rough first half of the 2022 schedule. But the reason that particular game is still a topic of internal conversation at the NFL Scouting Combine is because the Steelers dropped four interceptions while rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett threw three of his own. Pittsburgh lost by only six points, and that game proved to be a difference maker at season's end, as the Dolphins edged out the Steelers for the seventh and final spot in the AFC playoffs, despite identical 9-8 records.

"Oftentimes, particularly when's it's a defensive battle the way game developed into, it's about who catches the interception opportunities and who doesn't. That's just kind of the lens in which I see it," Tomlin said after the game. "The Dolphins caught theirs and we didn't catch ours. That's probably the difference in the game."

The Steelers are forced to address their secondary this offseason with a couple of key player bound to hit free agency. They'd also like to rejuvenate the group, and a deep class of very talented cornerbacks gives the Steelers a prime opportunity to avoid the types of games that hurt them a season ago.

Yes, the Steelers wound up tied for the league lead with 20 interceptions, and this team still very much values the ability to take the ball away. However, there are opportunities to help clean up some of the other aspects of the performance on the back end. Despite the high number of interceptions, Pittsburgh still ranked 19th in the NFL in pass defense and their 7.5 yards allowed per attempt ranked fourth-worst in the NFL.

Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow aren't going anywhere, and they'll be standing in the way of Pittsburgh's quest for a seventh Lombardi Trophy for the foreseeable future. In turn, the Steelers are at a crossroads and may be forced to alter what they value in their cornerbacks. 

The first two months of the NFL offseason has given the Steelers time to mull over how they'll attack March and April, and one of their top priorities is re-signing Cam Sutton.

On top of a modest three interceptions, Sutton ranked fourth-best in the NFL of 67 qualifying cornerbacks in holding receivers to catching only 50.7% of targets when he was in coverage, and he was sixth-best in the NFL with a 69.6 passer-rating against. These are numbers that NFL teams value. Then, considering his six years of experience and versatility to play outside or in the slot, Sutton will be a hot commodity and one of the most coveted cornerbacks in free agency.

Omar Khan already said publicly here at the NFL Combine that contract negotiations have begun with Sutton, though he did not specify where he ranks in terms of priorities. One team source I spoke with here said Sutton has the potential to be one of the next "guys" for the franchise. Meaning, this franchise is chock full of memorable players -- some Hall of Famers, some just really good ones. Sutton may not ever turn in the resume of a Mel Blount or Rod Woodson. But, turning into another memorable name on the list of Steelers' cornerbacks? They believe it's more than possible.

Either way, the Steelers want to keep Sutton. He is the priority ahead of free agency. How that plays out into dollars and cents remains to be seen.

Regardless of whether or not the Steelers are able to bring Sutton back to Pittsburgh, they certainly want to take advantage of this deep class of cornerbacks. Many of the prospects are fast, have a lot of length and have varying levels of ball skills. The list of players that said they had formal meetings with the Steelers include Alabama's Brian Branch, Mississippi State's Emmanuel Forbes, Texas A&M's Jaylon Jones, Maryland's Deonte Banks, Georgia's Kelee Ringo, South Carolina's Cam Smith and, of course, Penn State's Joey Porter Jr.

The Combine will help teams prioritize the cornerback position and order their big boards, especially at a position that includes so many prospects worthy of being selected in the top 50. But, what traits will the Steelers prioritize and zero in on?

One team source tells me game speed and being able to run with receivers is the top characteristic the Steelers are looking for in these cornerbacks. After that, they want guys who have the ability to take the ball away and can tackle.

That's not the mold we're used to. For those who may not remember, the tackling portion falls in line with what Grady Brown said while he was serving as a defensive coordinator at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

"In our division, we have to tackle," Brown said on Jan. 31. "Cleveland is going to make you tackle. Baltimore is going to make you tackle. You’ve got to tackle [Joe] Mixon. You’ve got to tackle all of those guys. It’s not just a cover situation in our defense, in our division. You have to be tough enough. You have to be a willing tackler. If you put on film that you won’t tackle, it’s going to be hard for you to play. You have to be a complete player for what we need."

The Steelers still want cornerbacks who can tackle. It's a necessity at the NFL level. But, the best way it's been described to me for what the Steelers ultimately want from this class of cornerbacks is someone who can add the ability to do more from the neck down. They're confident in what the existing group of guys can provide from the neck up, and that any prospect that comes in can learn what's needed in due time on the mental side. 

After all, Khan and Tomlin are the ones conducting the formal interviews in Indianapolis. They're going to find out which players will be able to excel off the field and in the film room. The Combine will also confirm which cornerbacks fit what the Steelers are looking for on the physical side.

Oregon's Christian Gonzalez shined on Day 2 of drills at the Combine, turning in a 4.38 40-yard dash and a 41.5-inch vertical. As long as everything checks out throughout the interview process and everything scouts saw on film was reaffirmed at the Combine, why wouldn't the Steelers want a guy who has that kind of physical ability on the field if he's available when the team is on the clock?

Whether it's bringing back Sutton, drafting one of the top cornerbacks in the first round, or both, it's clear the Steelers are out to revamp the position this spring. Bad games are bound to happen every season, but they want to make sure incidents such as the catastrophe that happened in Miami isn't holding them back from having a great defense. 

And, in a deep class of cornerbacks that has no true No. 1 at the top, the Steelers are doing their due diligence to find the right guys that fit the right mold -- a new mold that focuses more on recent NFL trends, coupled with the continued respect for playing in the AFC North.

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