The Pittsburgh Steelers clearly don't feel comfortable with the depth at the cornerback position. Despite an impressive 27-17 victory in the preseason opener on Friday, there were question marks from the cornerback room. The depth there was already a concern, and it became more of one after the win. Specifically, the nickel corner spot remains a huge question mark.
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Steelers rookie cornerback Cory Trice Jr. suffered a season-ending injury early in training camp, which has already put the team's cornerback depth to the test.
According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, the Steelers have signed cornerback Nevelle Clarke on Monday. Clarke most recently played for the New Orleans Breakers in the USFL. Before that, he spent some time with the Minnesota Vikings. In addition to that signing, the Steelers also hosted Corn Elder for a workout on Monday.
#Steelers signing @USFLBreakers corner Nevelle Clarke, per a league source previously #Vikings
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 14, 2023
Despite an impressive career at UCF, Clarke went undrafted in 2020. He was unable to make the Vikings' 53-man roster, and he's been trying to make it back to the NFL ever since. At the moment, this should be seen as an attempt to find a diamond in the rough. The Steelers have tried several different guys at cornerback this summer, specifically in that slot position.
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The Steelers have tried several different guys at the nickel cornerback spot this summer, including Chandon Sullivan.
Elder is primarily a slot cornerback, so that makes that particular workout interesting. He was a fifth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. The Miami (FL) product has appeared in 35 games in four NFL seasons, which has included just one start. He last appeared in five games for the Washington Commanders back in 2021.
Following the abrupt release of Arthur Maulet a few months ago, the Steelers had a sudden opening at the slot corner position. The team subsequently signed veteran Chandon Sullivan. Sullivan brings experience, as he’s started 31 games across five NFL seasons. Still, the team doesn’t seem particularly confident with him. Elijah Riley has seen time in the slot this summer, and he’s performed well.
Who will be Steelers' nickel cornerback in 2023?
General manager Omar Khan appeared on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, and he made it obvious that he’ll be aggressive when roster cuts take place. In other words, he’ll be active with free agents all the way up until Week 1. He's already done that with the linebacker position, and now it seems to be turning to cornerback. In Friday’s victory, the backup cornerbacks struggled a decent bit.
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Steelers veteran James Pierre was one of a few cornerbacks that struggled in the team's opening preseason victory.
James Pierre was a notable example of this, as a mistimed jump led to a touchdown. As a result of his poor performance, defensive coordaintor Teryl Austin provided an interesting perspective on Pierre's prospects of making the roster. Speaking of linebackers, the Steelers also worked out linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin this past weekend. One thing is clear: this roster is not fully set and Khan is not done being aggressive.
What are your thoughts on this signing following the preseason win? Is this a clear sign that the front office and coaching staff isn't confident with the depth at cornerback? What kind of chance does Clarke have in making the 53-man roster? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, yinz!
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