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Could Steelers add another bloodline to their roster?
Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Could Steelers add another bloodline to their roster?

It's no secret the Steelers love bloodlines.

Pittsburgh already has two sets of brothers — Cameron and Connor Heyward and Nate and Nick Herbig — as well as the son of former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter. Could they add another relative in the coming weeks?

It's certainly a possibility, as the team reportedly met with Ferris State cornerback Shon Stephens at the College Gridiron Showcase. He is the cousin of Joey Porter Jr., the No. 32 overall pick by Pittsburgh a year ago.

Stephens isn't a well-known name, as he has spent his entire college career in Division II, starting at West Liberty and transferring to Ferris State. 

He was supposed to transfer to Penn State in 2021 as a walk-on and then this past season at Purdue, but the NCAA ruled against his immediate eligibility.

Stephens deserves some recognition after intercepting eight passes and returning one for a touchdown in 11 games in 2023. He also ran in the 4.3s in the 40-yard dash and put up 19 reps on the bench press at Michigan State's pro day.

The Steelers already traded for Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson this offseason, but they should still add to the room, which is quite thin past Jackson and Porter Jr. Plus, Jackson only has one year left on his contract.

Pittsburgh also has several other needs that must be addressed in the 2024 NFL Draft. So, although it's not completely out of the question, taking a cornerback early feels unlikely.

That's why adding one as a late-round pick or an undrafted rookie makes sense, and Stephens certainly fits the bill.

If the Steelers draft Stephens or ink him to deal if he goes undrafted at the end of April, he and Porter Jr. would become the third group of family members on the roster.

All in all, it would not be surprising if Stephens ends up in Pittsburgh.

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