Steelers' Duke Dawson A Former 2nd Round Pick May Serve As A Legitimate Contender To Win Slot Corner Job In 2023

The Pittsburgh Steelers' front office did a tremendous job this offseason of bringing in talent at positions of need. With that being said, there are still a handful of starting jobs that are still up in the air and will ultimately be decided by training camp practices in Latrobe. One of these jobs, slot cornerback, has had a number of players try their luck at filling the role after the team saw both Cam Sutton and Arthur Maulet leave to play elsewhere this offseason. Fans may not know who wins the competition until the team officially announces their 53-man roster in late August. 

The Steelers have no shortage of options when it comes to replacing the snaps Sutton and Maulet played in 2022. Perhaps the leader in the clubhouse at this time is Chandon Sullivan, who signed with the Steelers this offseason after stints with the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings. Over the course of his five-year NFL career, he has notched five interceptions and 23 passes defended in 31 starts. In addition to Sullivan, the team also has players such as Elijah Riley and Tre Norwood to consider. 

There is also another defensive back who many fans were likely not aware of prior to training camp that seems to be gaining some attention, former second-round pick, Duke Dawson. Originally drafted by the New England Patriots in 2018, the former University of Florida standout has struggled tremendously in staying on the field. He failed to ever play a single snap with the Patriots and was ultimately traded to the Denver Broncos in 2019. He appeared in 26 games, starting four during his time in Denver. He has not seen any regular season action in each of the last two seasons. 

Dawson Has A Chance To Revive His Career With The Steelers 

Dawson has reportedly had some "first-team' reps at slot corner in 2023 training camp. With that being said, it is important to keep in mind that many of the lineups the Steelers try out this early on mean little to nothing in terms of what the team will ultimately do when the regular season begins. 

Needless say, the biggest obstacle the former second-round pick will need to hurdle this season is remaining healthy. There is no denying that he is immensely talented, but this talent does not mean much of anything if he isn't on the field. He will need an impressive showing in both training camp and the preseason to solidly his spot on the 53-man roster. If this does indeed happen, he may have a legitimate shot on sticking around in Pittsburgh, as the team may opt to keep as many as six corners on the active roster. At this point in time, the only locks to make the team are Patrick Peterson, Levi Wallace, and Joey Porter Jr. Players such as James Pierre and Cory Trice Jr. are viable options as well, but are not guaranteed a spot. 

Final Thoughts 

While there is still plenty of time for Dawson to show his worth, he may need to do so sooner rather than later, as Riley has reportedly played well in training camp thus far. In 2022, he appeared in four total games for the Steelers and is undoubtedly hungry to play even more in 2023. 

Riley may have the upper hand now, but it may not be long until Dawson shows why he was a second-round pick. With not having any regular season snaps since the 2020 campaign, it is not much of a stretch to think that this time with the Steelers may be his final shot of landing on a 53-man roster. Optimistically speaking, this will serve as motivation and allow for him to play to his maximum potential in training camp. While he is most likely a long-shot to make the team, he will certainly be a player worth keeping an eye on over the next few weeks. 

How do Yinz feel about Dawson's chances of winning the slot corner job? What about Riley? Who has stood out to you thus far in training camp? Be sure to let us know in the comments! 

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