The Steelers went into the 2023 NFL Draft with the need to inject youth into the cornerback position and came away with Joey Porter Jr., who finished as a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year. In 2024, the Steelers could very well use an early draft pick to give Porter a running mate in the secondary.
The NFL Combine begins next week in Indianapolis, where all 32 teams will get their chance to not only evaluate players up close, but host formal and informal meetings with them. And, just as they did last season, the Steelers will likely meet with all of the top cornerbacks.
The Steelers were forced to address their secondary last offseason with a couple of key players hitting free agency, specifically Cam Sutton, who wound up signing with the Lions. A deep class of very talented cornerbacks gave the Steelers a prime opportunity to add to and possibly rejuvenate the cornerback room, and the Steelers wound up selecting Porter with the 32nd overall pick.
Fortunately, that worked out for Pittsburgh. Despite being eased into the action, Porter turned into a legitimate No. 1 cornerback and was given the ultimate responsibility of shadowing the opposing team's top receiver week after week. But now, that's pretty much all the Steelers have at the position. Sure, Cory Trice Jr. and Darius Rush are two interesting candidates that could carve out a role for themselves in 2024, but that's far from a sure thing. And, Patrick Peterson is another year older and carries a heavy $9.775-million cap hit in 2024. And in his first year with the Steelers, Peterson was more effective playing inside at safety rather than on the outside.
In other words, the Steelers need to use the draft once again to add to the cornerback room, regardless of what they do in free agency. Even if the Steelers were to sign a top-of-the-market cornerback, I wouldn't rule out using an early draft pick on another guy. It's a position that teams are willing to invest money, especially when it's a team such as Pittsburgh that values defense so much. And, since the Steelers focused so heavily on cornerbacks last year, we don't have to look very far to see what they might look for in a cornerback this year.
When I covered the Combine last year, I had the opportunity to learn exactly what the Steelers value at the position. I can confidently tell you these valued traits haven't changed in one year's time:
• The Steelers want more guys who can do more "from the neck down." Of course, that doesn't mean the Steelers want guys with a low football IQ. But, it's clear this organization put a lot of value in athleticism and physical traits.
• Among the list of things players have from the neck down, game speed and being able to run with receivers is the top characteristic the Steelers value. That doesn't mean the guy with the fastest 40-yard dash is an automatic lock to be high on the Steelers' board. Sure, foot speed is part of that, but so is positioning and the ability to react and move with receivers in coverage.
• Tackling. Despite Porter's struggles with tackling coming out of college, the Steelers still want their cornerbacks to be "willing" tacklers. Coaches can clean up technique, as we saw with Porter last season. But, this organization puts a big emphasis on tackling, which makes a ton of sense given the division the Steelers play in.
• Last but certainly not least, the Steelers value ball skills and the ability to take the ball away. That goes without saying. Mike Tomlin loves splash plays from his defense.
Considering these traits, let's take a brief look at three cornerback prospects that could be taken almost anywhere in the first round:
COOPER DEJEAN, IOWA
When considering players that can do a lot from the neck down, there might not be a better player to fit that mold that Cooper DeJean. Not only does he possess great size at 6-foot-1 and 207 pounds, DeJean is a very versatile player that can play all over a defense and contribute with a ton of splash as a returner on special teams.
You don't have to get deep into this highlight package to see what I mean:
DeJean played primarily outside at cornerback for Iowa, but played as many as 130 snaps in the slot in 2022. He's got plenty of versatility. He's also got plenty of ball skills, recording seven interceptions over the last two seasons. And, when he wasn't making plays on the ball, quarterbacks didn't find much success throwing in his direction. Quarterbacks posted a lowly 37.8 passer rating when throwing in DeJean's direction.
In addition to versatility and ball skills, DeJean is a strong tackler and does a great job supporting in run defense. He recorded 57 tackles in 2022 and 30 tackles in 2023, showing he doesn't shy away from contact. As you can see, a lot of DeJean's traits match up well with what the Steelers value at cornerback.
However, if there's any drawback, DeJean's skill set fits more in zone defenses. DeJean uses his athleticism and quickness well reading the quarterback and reacting while defending the zone he's covering. That athleticism and quickness is slowed a bit in press man coverage due to some stiff hips and iffy footwork. Now, that doesn't mean DeJean can't fit in Pittsburgh's defense. Porter can be the guy who follows top receivers and plays the majority of press man coverage while DeJean can play a different role opposite Porter or even move around a little bit.
DeJean will likely be a first-round pick. It's also likely he's not available when the Steelers pick at No. 20 overall. But, if he is still available, he'll fit very well into a "best player available" strategy.
NATE WIGGINS, CLEMSON
Nate Wiggins better fits the profile of an outside cornerback than DeJean. The combination of his 6-foot-2 height, arm length and instincts make him a first-round caliber prospect.
Wiggins plays mostly off-man and Cover 3 zone coverage, but is very competitive no matter what coverage he's in. He does a great job of attacking the ball at the catch point, attacking the body of the receiver and his technique with his hands is noteworthy, as well. These strengths have paved the way for Wiggins to break up 13 passes and record three interceptions over the past two seasons. Quarterbacks also recorded a poor 44.4 passer rating against Wiggins in 2023.
In man coverage, Wiggins is a bit different than Porter, not relying so much on being overly physical. Wiggins has great anticipation and footwork, leveraging the release of the receiver and timing of the route. He's also smart and knows how to use the sideline to his advantage, shrinking the coverage area and passing windows for quarterbacks. While Porter excels by playing press coverage, Wiggins plays very well off the ball. His ability to diagnose and recognize quick routes and screens is impressive, and he reads route concepts well from depth, letting his athleticism and quickness slam throwing windows shut.
Wiggins does struggle a bit in run defense and as a tackler, which as we know doesn't line up with the Steelers' preferred traits. However, just because he struggled with it in college doesn't mean he can't improve once turning pro. Plus, Wiggins possesses outstanding determination, which is exemplified in this play where he chases down a ball carrier like DK Metcalf:
— DK Pittsburgh Sports (@DKPSmedia) February 21, 2024
Wiggins also figures to be a first-round pick and could be a nice complement to Porter. They're both similar in size and length, while having success in different ways. But, more importantly, Wiggins aligns with all of the traits the Steelers value most, outside of tackling. However, his ability from the neck down and smarts from the neck up make him an interesting option should he be available at 20th overall.
QUINYON MITCHELL, TOLEDO
Quinyon Mitchell may come from a small school, but he could possibly be the best cornerback in this draft class.
Mitchell is a superb athlete, and he couples that with excellent route-recognition ability and anticipation. He does a great job of keeping everything in front of him and preventing the deep ball. Mitchell shined at the Senior Bowl, and this rep that NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah pointed out on social media really shows how well Mitchell can run with receivers:
— DK Pittsburgh Sports (@DKPSmedia) February 21, 2024
That rep was against Michigan's Roman Wilson, a projected second-round pick. That's no small-school receiver.
Now, couple that ability with superb reaction time and tremendous ball skills and production. Mitchell recorded six interceptions over the past two seasons, and recorded 17 forced incompletions, according to Pro Football Focus, tied for third-most in the country. Mitchell battles so well at the catch point and is as competitive and disruptive as any cornerback in this class. He has a great knack for attacking the receiver’s hands, and has good instincts at undercutting routes and creating takeaway opportunities.
With ball production often comes some overaggressiveness, which can open things up for chunk plays. The Steelers really want to cut down on giving those up. But, Tomlin would salivate over an opportunity to bring in more guys who know how to hunt for the football. This defense, especially over the past two seasons, really relied so much on taking the ball away. Mitchell fits the bill there. Though, just as it is with Wiggins, there will be questions about his tackling, specifically in run defense, not against receivers.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Now, I could continue to go through prospect after prospect and give you a scouting report on each cornerback in this class. But, a lot of this has been about how any of these guys fit in the Steelers' defense. You could make a good case for any of these three guys, and certainly more from another deep class of cornerbacks. The list of preferred traits is right here.
One thing we can't forget is how things go during formal and informal meetings during the Combine next week. Tomlin and Omar Khan are the ones who have the formal meetings with players. Other members of the coaching staff host the informal meetings. So, any cornerbacks that the Steelers don't have time for a formal meeting, they'll likely meet with Grady Brown, who is more than aware of what the Steelers look for in players.
And, we can't forget how much the Steelers value intangibles. "Is this guy a Steeler or not?" Everything could look great on film. But, if red flags pop up during meetings, the stars won't align during the draft.
So, if you ever feel like doing your own homework on cornerbacks, I've given you the template of what the Steelers want in their cornerbacks. This class has guys that fit very well. And, after the Combine next week, we should get an even clearer picture of who fits best.
