The Pittsburgh Steelers knew ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft that in order for them to compete against some of the elite receivers in the NFL, they needed a shutdown cornerback. Selecting Joey Porter Jr. with the 32nd overall pick in 2023 locked down one side of the field for the Steelers going forward. However, after Porter Jr.'s impressive rookie season, Pittsburgh could be eager to pair another young cornerback to create a tandem for the future.
With a deep cornerback class, the 2024 NFL Draft could be the perfect place for the Steelers to find even more upgrades to their roster. Jason La Canfora was on the In The Huddle Podcast Wednesday, and he discussed the Steelers and their possible draft plans. La Canfora wouldn't be surprised at all if the Steelers ended up using a high pick on a cornerback, especially since that is what they are prone to do.
"I would say they've drafted a lot of corners over the years. They've never had the depth at corner they felt like they should have. If there's a corner who they think is close to best of breed who stands out to them above some of these other position groups, it wouldn't shock me... and, I don't know, it's kind of in their DNA to draft corners."
Porter Jr. will be heading up the cornerback group in 2024, with Levi Wallace and Patrick Peterson no longer on the team. After slowly earning his way into the starting lineup during his 2023 rookie campaign, Porter Jr. never looked back and is now entering his second season in the NFL. The prospect of bringing in another cornerback that could potentially form a strong, shutdown duo for the Steelers' future could be too good for Pittsburgh to pass up.
While the trade that sent Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers also brought cornerback Donte Jackson to the Steelers, it is believed that Jackson will end up functioning more as a slot corner than one of the two starters. Jackson should surely end up adding some much-needed depth to the Steelers' secondary, but he likely won't be relied on to command the opposite side of the field as Porter Jr. covers.
Another situation that could certainly play into Pittsburgh's draft strategy is the health of Cory Trice Jr.. The Steelers selected Trice Jr. in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and the tall cornerback became a standout during camp. However, that ended very suddenly when a season-ending knee injury caused him to spend the remainder of his rookie season rehabbing the injury in hopes of hitting the ground running in 2024.
Without any professional experience yet, Trice Jr. is more of a mystery than anything. The bottom line is that the Steelers probably won't be heading into 2024 without bringing in someone else to defend the pass, no matter how impressive Porter Jr.'s rookie season was. La Canfora sees it as being in Pittsburgh's DNA, but it's also a necessity if they want to contend against the elite teams in the NFL.
Steelers Eying Several Cornerback Prospects
The Steelers have a great deal of faith in what they have seen out of Porter Jr., but many believe that isn't going to stop them from selecting a cornerback in the 2024 NFL Draft. Along with offensive linemen, finding another corner to play with Porter Jr. is a priority for the Steelers. Depending on how high that particular priority is for Omar Khan and Pittsburgh's front office, they have several excellent options already.
Nate Wiggins out of Clemson, both Terrion Arnold and Ga'Quincy "Kool-Aid" McKinstry out of Alabama, and Cooper DeJean, who played for the Iowa Hawkeyes, are all players who have been on the Steelers' radar. With such a deep cornerback class in the 2024 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh could feel like they have the option to be patient and still find their guy. Whoever they bring in will be a player that fits in with the high expectations that come from being on a Steelers' defense.
Porter Jr. took some large strides in his first NFL season. If the Steelers choose to spend a high draft pick on a cornerback for the second consecutive draft, then they will be expecting Porter Jr. to continue maturing and be someone who can help the rookie along. If Porter Jr. is up to the task, the Steelers could find themselves with a cornerback tandem for the next decade.
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