The Pittsburgh Steelers have done a great job of addressing their big needs in free agency, so that they can do whatever they want in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. The front office can afford to just go for the best player available and see if any other players at key positions end up falling further than they should. Positions like cornerback and wide receiver were seen as major holes earlier, but not anymore after General Manager Omar Khan got to work in March. This is a great situation to be in, outside of the quarterback issue.
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Steelers' executives watch the draft from their war room as they await their pick.
The Steelers still seem to be interested in adding a cornerback, but they can wait for a potential steal if they want to. ESPN analyst Matt Miller named a perfect option for Pittsburgh to go for in this situation, as he is listed under "Day 3 Sleepers."
"Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M. Lee was a consistent performer throughout college and jumps off the tape in press coverage, where he played 240 of his snaps over three seasons," Miller wrote. "That talent was on display at the Senior Bowl, too. Lee's 4.52-second time in the 40-yard dash at the combine didn't help his draft stock, but he's a potential NFL starter."
Cornerback Will Lee III may need some time to develop, but with all the high-quality veterans in Pittsburgh's receiver room, he would get that chance. He is a great candidate to start his career on special teams to get some playing time and learn the ropes before getting a larger role on defense with each passing year. If the Steelers select him on Day 3 of the draft, they would be very happy if they got that kind of production from him.
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Will Lee III plays during a home game for the Texas A&M Aggies.
The Steelers have loaded up on press cornerbacks over the past few years, so the scheme would perfectly fit Lee. While other teams may be turned off by his 40-yard dash time, Pittsburgh has a great understanding of how that area works. Speed is not a major factor if he can bump a receiver off his route and stay in his hip pocket to slow him down. This could be amazing value for the pick.
Lee was not much of a big-play threat during his time with the Texas A&M Aggies, as he had no takeaways in the 2025 season. He did have 50 tackles and eight passes defended in that season. That is exactly what the Steelers need from their secondary: nothing flashy, but effectiveness on the outside to shut down any route immediately. That will be tough to beat if he develops like scouts seem to believe he can.
Steelers Have Perfect Time Frame For Lee To Start
The Steelers signed press corner Jamel Dean to pair with Joey Porter Jr. for the next few years. Dean signed a three-year deal with an out after his first season if he struggles. Whether he sticks around for all three seasons or not, Lee would get a great chance to sit behind him and learn how to be a quality press corner against these elite NFL-level wide receivers. Whenever he leaves, it could hypothetically be the former Aggie's time to shine.
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Steelers' Jamel Dean returns an interception for a touchdown during his time with the Buccaneers.
Lee can slot in as a rotational piece at first whenever needed, but he could keep working and developing until he gets his time to shine. He could keep falling in the draft due to his lack of speed and flashy play, but sometimes, a team just needs a no-nonsense player that does his job without appearing on the highlight reel. That is how the Steelers' cornerback room is currently constructed, and they can keep adding to that mindset with an absolute steal.
What do you think about the Steelers possibly selecting Lee on Day 3 of the draft? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB. I will follow back and respond.
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