Seventh round: Steelers cap off draft with bruisers Trice, Anderson taken on the South Side (NFL Draft)

Purdue Athletics

Cory Trice.

The two final selections for the Steelers were used to shore up depth in positions of need, as Purdue cornerback Cory Trice Jr. and Maryland guard Spencer Anderson were chosen at picks 241 and 251, respectively, in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft Saturday.

Trice brings some perceived value at that slot, as he was the 77th-ranked player on Pro Football Focus' big board, He is a tall and lengthy cornerback at 6-foot-3, yet he excelled in press coverage last season by allowed just one catch on 88 press snaps.

"He did a great job at Purdue, taking up a lot of space on the line of scrimmage, played a lot of press coverage, and that's huge," secondary coach Grady Brown said Saturday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. "Really, just the way that he plays press, being able to go down and not play a motor technique, not back up, but really just used that 6-3, 6-2 frame to just take up a lot of space and make guys work on the line of scrimmage. So, really excited about getting him here. He has some toughness. He started his career off as a safety. He was a high school basketball player. So just a lot of good things just from a coaching standpoint to work with, and we're looking forward to getting them in here."

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As for Anderson, the 6-foot-5, 320 pound redshirt senior allowed just two sacks in 544 pass-blocking snaps last season. Over his career, Anderson allowed four sacks and four quarterback hits in 1,274 pass-blocking snaps, per PFF. He played every position on the Maryland line, but played in 12 games at right guard in 2022.

"I feel like it helps a lot," Anderson said of his versatility. "In the NFL, snaps are limited, and seasons are limited when you’re stuck at one position so I feel like me adding the versatility to the team is definitely a bonus when teams usually travel with seven to eight linemen, if that. It’s always a good help when you can help at all five spots on the offensive line."

The two are part of an overall physical class brought in by Omar Khan, Mike Tomlin and the rest of the Steelers' brass, as the cornerback and offensive line positions each were addressed twice among their seven pick over the three days. 

"Whenever I had talked to the Steelers, we definitely had a good conversation," Trice said. "I understand the things that they like to do with their players as far as technique, and I’ve just been watching them and stuff like that. I’m just excited man, I’m just excited to be here and be a Steeler. ... It’s just those guys trying to win. They always have a winning season. It’s just, everything they do is just trying to win, so I just want to be a part of that and do everything I can."

Trice, of course, joins Joey Porter Jr. as cornerbacks taken in the 2023 draft, and the two profile similarly in stature. Each came from a Big Ten program, each measured above 6-foot-2 at the NFL Combine and had similar measurements at the Combine.

Trice ran a 4.47 40-yard dash to Porter's 4.46, Trice jumped a 35.5-inch vertical to Porter's 35 inches, Trice recorded an 11-foot broad jump to Porter's 10-foot-9, and each posted 17 reps on the bench press in Indianapolis.

"Oh man, look at us, man," Trice said. "We’re both 6-foot-3, can run, good press corners. Both of us can tackle. We’re just going to go in there and do everything we can do to win."

Assuming they make the team, Trice will likely contest with Arthur Maulet and the newly-signed Chandon Sullivan for playing time as a slot cornerback. As for Anderson, look for him to be a universally versatile backup to the interior positions across the Steelers' offensive line.

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