In what was a phenomenal draft overall, perhaps the Pittsburgh Steelers' best pick came in the seventh round. While they had already picked a cornerback in the second round in Joey Porter Jr., there was some value on the board in the seventh round. Purdue defensive back Cory Trice Jr. was projected to go in the middle rounds, but he was somehow still available.
Doug McSchooler / AP
Steelers' 241st overall selection Cory Trice Jr. will have an uphill climb to try and make the team's Week 1 53-man roster.
That led the Steelers to take their second CB of the 2023 NFL Draft. It was quite a surprise that he was still on the board that late, especially for Trice and his family. In fact, he told them there was a chance, albeit slim, that he would go in the first round. Now, he's set to prove all other 31 NFL teams wrong, as Teresa Varley of Steelers.com captured some quotes from the DB.
"It was kind of tough because I had plans to go higher than what I did. It was a big relief to get the call from the Steelers. I told [my family] I think I can go on day one, but I might not go on day one. They still all came over and stayed with me. From day one to day three, all the way to the seventh round, my family stayed through the whole thing," Trice said via Varley.
Now, Trice is far from a lock to make the team's Week 1 53-man roster. In fact, rookie seventh-rounders are more likely to be cut than to make the opening day roster. Still, it's important to recognize that the Purdue cornerback isn't your typical final-round selection.
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The Steelers' sudden release of slot cornerback Arthur Maulet bodes well for a guy like Cory Trice Jr.
The cornerback position is suddenly quite deep for the Steelers, but the recent release of Arthur Maulet does help a guy like Trice. There may not be a player that benefitted more from the somewhat surprising cut before OTA's. While Trice doesn't necessarily play slot like Maulet, it's a possible roster spot that opened up. The team's plan in the slot remains unclear, as it could very well be a mixture of different guys on the roster.
Steelers CB's a position to watch in camp
Porter Jr., Patrick Peterson, and Levi Wallace are the presumed locks to make the roster at the position. That leaves three spots potentially open, depending on whether the team keeps five or six CB's. Six-year veteran Ahkello Witherspoon is a name to watch, as he went through an injury-plagued 2022 campaign. Ultimately, he seems to be a possible cut candidate, which would only open up another potential spot for Trice.
His length is appealing at the professional level, one of his best traits coming out of Purdue. Trice and Porter share similar play styles at the cornerback position, both lengthy guys that like to play up at the line of scrimmage. It's a trend that Pittsburgh may be looking for in their cornerbacks nowadays, as their last few picks at the position have not panned out.
Do you think the rookie will ultimately land on the Week 1 53-man roster? What are your NFL expectations for him in Pittsburgh? Can Trice and Porter become a long-term cornerback duo for the black and gold? Will Porter win 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, as well as on our social media sites, yinz!
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