The Pittsburgh Steelers did not hesitate to take advantage of the 2023 NFL Draft, which provided a loaded cornerback class. Pittsburgh was mocked several times to select Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. in the first round, but remained patient and snagged him in the second round with the 32nd overall pick.
The team then double-dipped on the position, selecting Cory Trice Jr. out of Purdue University. Trice was selected with the 241st overall pick in the seventh round.
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The Steelers selected Joey Porter Jr with their 32nd pick.
Size is the biggest takeaway from both of these selections, as the Steelers got bigger on the outside defensively with the two gigantic corners entering the depth chart. Porter Jr. sits at 6'2", while Trice Jr. is an inch taller at 6' 3", providing great length and reach for the Steelers.
Length is something you can’t teach, but the Steelers couldn’t help themselves from seeing the potential in these kids. The two Big Ten selections now add to a 'crowded' cornerback room in Pittsburgh.
Will The Investment In Lengthy Corners Pay Off For The Steelers?
The current cornerbacks in the mix include: Patrick Peterson, Porter Jr, Arthur Maulet, Chandon Sullivan, James Pierre, Levi Wallace, Trice Jr, Ahkello Witherspoon, Duke Dawson and Chris Wilcox.
Peterson is the most experienced of the bunch and the eight-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time All-Pro will look to lead the room during his tenure in Pittsburgh. We will start getting a clearer picture on how the cornerbacks will look heading into the season opener in September as the offseason goes on. The potential is there and we’re all excited to see the new pickups have the chance to make their mark in the black and gold.
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Steelers offseason signing Patrick Peterson will look to lead the Pittsburgh corners in 2023
Everyone is anxious to see how these new Steelers can mesh with the team. The Steelers have impressed again, sticking to their knowledge and allowing the draft to play itself out. In fact, Pro Football Focus graded teams on their overall drafting. Pittsburgh was one of the five teams listed who received an A+ grade.
Steelers General Manager, Omar Khan and Head Coach, Mike Tomlin shared some of their thoughts on the class as a whole.
"I can’t wait until we get to rookie minicamp in a couple of weeks and really see our new Steelers in action," Khan said. "It's going to be fun, and I think we’re in a good place."
The General Manager then turned it over to Tomlin for his opinion on the subject.
"I feel really good about the weekend, but probably equally important is that I felt good about the process," He said.
Steelers fans are feeling optimistic after what seemed to be a home run of a draft. Credit Khan, Tomlin and the whole Steelers front office for the impact they have made in Khan’s first draft as GM.
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Steelers GM Omar Khan smiles as his master plan unfolds
You’d have to go back to the 2017 draft for the last time the Steelers selected two corners in the same year. That was the year they selected current Detroit Lions cornerback Cameron Sutton, who just left the team this past offseason. They then selected Brian Allen, who hasn’t played for the Steelers since the 2018 season and is now in the XFL.
The Steelers defense ended last season with an impressive stretch, allowing just 151.1 pass yards per game, along with 21 sacks and eight interceptions in the final seven games of the regular season. If the Steelers got it right with these choices, this defense could make its way to being one of the best units in the NFL. How do you think the Steelers cornerback room will shape up this season? Let us know in the comments below.
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