Pittsburgh Steelers News

Home

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers Could Add Excellent Depth By Looking To Cornerback Tavion McCarthy

Originally posted on Steeler Nation | By Zac Franciscus | Last updated 4/14/24

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a knack for finding excellent talent deep in the NFL Draft. They found Antonio Brown late in the sixth round in 2010, and despite his off-the-field antics, there is no doubting the ability Brown brought to Pittsburgh. Ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Steelers are eager to continue that trend by getting great value even with lower-end picks. Tavion McCarthy, former cornerback for the Mercer Bears, might just be that next diamond in the rough for the Steelers.

McCarthy isn't expected to go high in the 2024 NFL Draft, but that hasn't diminished his attitude throughout the draft process. Justin Melo of The Draft Network interviewed McCarthy, and the undersized defensive back feels good about his interactions with the Steelers and what that could mean for him. Melo mentioned the rise in interest that McCarthy has been getting, and he is incredibly excited about the feedback.

"I’ve had great contact with the Steelers... It’s all happening for me right now. It feels like a huge blessing. I’m getting some attention... There’s some buzz behind my name right now."

McCarthy wasn't on the radar for too many teams prior to his Pro Day, when he exceeded all expectations and put himself on the map. A concern regarding McCarthy is his size, as the cornerback measured at 5'9" and 190 pounds, which is not ideal for a Pittsburgh team that likes taller defensive backs. However, McCarthy turned in a brilliant 44-inch vertical jump, which is the fifth-highest of any defensive back since 1999.

.@MercerFootball DB Tavion
McCarthy is 5’9” with a 44” vertical

(via @dpbrugler) pic.twitter.com/t3QlqjuXcI
— NFL (@NFL) March 27, 2024

The worries about McCarthy's size took a backseat to his ability to literally rise above those limitations. At Mercer, McCarthy had a solid senior season in which he had over 50 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, and broke up two more. While it won't jump off the page, McCarthy, along with his insane vertical, could be just what the Steelers are looking for late in the draft. Pittsburgh also values cornerbacks who can tackle, and McCarthy had a few things to say regarding his ability to take down the ball carrier.

"A lot of teams know I can fit the run. I’ve always gotten great feedback for my ability to defend the run from the nickel. I’m an efficient tackler. On top of that, I always played man coverage in college. It’s going to be a great opportunity for me. Everybody knows the nickel position is basically a starting position on NFL defenses nowadays. It’s important to have a nickel that can defend the run and the pass. I’m that kind of player. I can accomplish those things for a defense."

If the Steelers agree with McCarthy's assessment of his game, then another late-round value selection could be in the cards for Pittsburgh. There is no doubt that McCarthy is ready to hit the ground running; the question is whether the Steelers see more of what they like than what concerns them. If nothing else, having the best vertical in the last 25 years got him in their sights.

Steelers Have Hope For Their Former Late-Round Pick

If there is one particular recent instance that could give McCarthy hope for becoming a late Steelers' pick during the 2024 NFL Draft, it's Cory Trice Jr. Pittsburgh selected Trice Jr. in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The tall defensive back made a huge splash during Pittsburgh's 2023 training camp, but before anything could progress further, Trice Jr. went down with a season-ending injury.

After the successful rookie year had by Joey Porter Jr., including a Defensive Rookie of the Year nomination, the Steelers want to add to their cornerback group. They hope to have Trice Jr. back and healthy to compete in camp. If McCarthy turns out to be in the right place at the right time, he could find himself right in the middle of that competition, and that's just how he likes it.

Where would you select Tavion McCarthy in the 2024 NFL Draft?

This article first appeared on SteelerNation.com and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: