The Pittsburgh Steelers have been missing Mike Hilton ever since he left to sign with the Cincinnati Bengals. The former undrafted free agent made a name for himself as an excellent blitzer with quality coverage abilities. He went undrafted due to the fact that he was so small. He was listed at 5'9" and 178 pounds during his Pro Day, which scared teams away from his early-round caliber talent. Pittsburgh seemingly regrets letting him go, but the franchise may be able to snag up the next Hilton without paying much.
Peter Diana / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Steelers former cornerback Mike Hilton after making an interception in 2019.
The Steelers may be look at Eddie Faulkner IV out of Slippery Rock. Faulkner is about 5'8" and 189 pounds, and plays a similar style of football to Hilton: versatile, aggressive, and he also can be an effective blitzer. Size does not matter much to the Steelers, as they have proven that time and time again, including with their former star slot corner.
Faulkner attended Pro Day with the Pittsburgh Panthers, with the hope that anyone would take note of him. The Steelers had numerous scouts and coaches at the local Pro Day, so it's safe to say that someone in the organization saw him, and his name will likely be brought up in draft meetings.
Slippery Rock Athletics
Eddie Faulkner IV prepares to make a tackle during a game for Slippery Rock University.
Faulkner brought up his current expectations via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, as he hopes to get a call from anyone during the draft.
“I think in the NFL there’s a common saying that if you’re good enough, they’ll find you," Faulker said. "I feel like I’m one of those guys...“I've been short my entire life. “There’s never been a point where I wasn't one of the shortest people out there in whatever sport I was playing — middle school, high school, college. But at this point, I know that's just part of my identity. I know I have good film, decent numbers. If me being short is not good enough for any type of professional organization that wants to sign me or pick me up, that’s OK with me. I am who I am at this point. There’s not going to be anything that’s going to change my height.”
Faulkner does have a disadvantage, as he played for a Division II school. However, he looks at Kenny Moore II of the Indianapolis Colts, who also went to a D-II program before becoming a quality slot corner, while also looking at Hilton. If they can do it despite their height issues and Moore's low-level school, so can he.
Steelers Have A Strong Connection With Faulkner
No one knows about Faulkner more than his father: Steelers running backs coach Eddie Faulkner. It's safe to say that he might be looking to persuade the Steelers' front office to take a look at his son and give him a shot. If they gave Hilton a shot, why not take a flier on a similar athlete from a smaller school?
Caitlyn Epes / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers then-interim offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner has done a solid job for the team no matter what he is tasked to do
Like with Hilton and Moore, Faulkner IV would most likely have to be signed as an undrafted free agent, but he if he does get a contract, it will likely be done as the final round of the 2025 draft comes to a close. He will have a lot of strong competition during training camp, but even if he doesn't make the final roster, a trip to the practice squad could help.
Beanie Bishop Jr. and Brandin Echols are projected to be the slot corners for the Steelers in 2025, but you can never have too much depth. It will be tough for Faulkner IV to beat them out, but if he can hang around for long enough, he could force himself on the active roster at some point time, whether it be due to injury or just getting better and better.
What do you think about the Steelers signing the next Hilton as an undrafted free agent? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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