Thursday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Steelers' former Super Bowl Champion cornerback, Ike Taylor announced on The Pat McAfee Show that he will be rejoining the organization and working as a scout for the front office. The team has yet to announce the addition, but we can expect that in the coming weeks. Taylor was always an under-appreciated member of the dominant defenses in the mid-2000s even though he was the number one cornerback. He had 134 passes defended and 14 interceptions during his career, all while he remained extremely healthy, having played all 16 games in nine of his 12 NFL seasons.
Steelers Ike Taylor and Mike Tomlin at 2022 training camp | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
On the show, Taylor mentioned that he has always wanted to be a scout and believes he has an eye for it. The hiring may not come as a coincidence or surprise as the Steelers have struggled for years drafting cornerbacks. Without a free agent signing of Joe Haden a few years ago, the team may have had an abysmal pass defense. Taylor's experience playing in the NFL may help the front office in evaluating talent at the collegiate level.
Steelers' Recent Evaluations Of Collegiate Cornerbacks Has Not Been Good
Since 2010, the franchise has drafted 11 cornerbacks. The only one who stands out as a successful selection is actually the most recent and current Steeler, Cameron Sutton. After Sutton, however, the names go as follows:
Brian Allen (2017, Round 5)
Allen is still in the NFL and plays for the New Orleans Saints, but only has played four total games since playing in 16 matchups for the Steelers in 2017 and 2018.
Artie Burns (2016, Round 1)
It really is a shame to look at this pick, as it could not have been more of a miss for the organization. After having three interceptions during his rookie season, he was a complete liability and never lived up to the hype. He is now on his third team in six seasons.
BALTIMORE, MD - NOVEMBER 6: Cornerback Artie Burns #25 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts after making an interception in the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 6, 2016, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Senquez Golson (2015, Round 2)
Swing and a miss once again and this one may be even worse than Burns. Golson never played an NFL snap after injuries plagued his career immediately after he was drafted. Golson was a complete waste of a second-round pick.
Doran Grant (2015, Round 4)
The Steelers took Grant out of Ohio State and it led to them being 0/2 on cornerbacks this year. He only managed to play three games during his rookie season and spent most of the year on the practice squad. He never played another professional regular-season snap after 2015.
Shaquille Richardson (2014, Round 5)
Not much to write here. Richardson spent two months of his rookie season on the practice squad and was then waived by the Steelers.
Terry Hawthorne (2013, Round 5)
Hawthorne never even made it to the regular season. He was released on August 31, 2013, and never got to play in meaningful NFL action.
Terrence Frederick (2012, Round 7)
Almost all seventh-round guys have a tough time making the team. He did play five games in his career, but not for the Steelers.
Curtis Brown (2011, Round 3)
Brown lasted just three years in the NFL, but unlike most of these guys, played 34 career games for the black and gold. Nothing more to write about, though.
Cortez Allen (2011, Round 4)
Allen didn't have an All-Pro career by any means but played out his rookie contract with the Steelers and is the most decorated on this list behind Sutton. He played in 54 career games and had six interceptions, but his career ended after five years when the team released him in 2016.
Credit: Peter Diana / Post-Gazette
Crezdon Butler (2010, Round 5)
Butler hung around in the league for a while and spent time on eight different practice squads. His time with Mike Tomlin's team, however, was only four games long.
Most of these names are probably unfamiliar to the average fan, but it is fair to say the selections have been horrible. The list above is extremely frightening when you look at all the busts taken at one single position. Here is to hoping that Taylor can join the scouting department and provide some better insight on certain guys before the Steelers waste picks on players who don't pan out.
The former cornerback knows what it takes to have a long, healthy career at the next level all while playing for one organization. These key factors are the main reasons why the Steelers are bringing in Taylor to be a scout and his being able to make a difference in terms of scouting the position he excelled at for so many years. This could be a giant boost to the franchise's scouting department.
Having Sutton and Haden is one reason a cornerback hasn't been drafted by the team since 2017, but one has to believe the other reason is that the front office has had no trust in their evaluations of the position.
Do you think Taylor can help rectify the years of poor cornerback selections? Let us know in the comments below!
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