The Pittsburgh Steelers have a very important week ahead. The franchise is currently slated to make 12 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, and it is imperative that the team can find some players who can have a high impact in their rookie seasons. Finding depth is also important, but if the Steelers want to take the next step, some high impact rookies are going to be needed. Pittsburgh has a few areas on the roster that absolutely need to be addressed, and that includes wide receiver and the left side of the offensive line. Those should be the two main priorities, but the secondary could use some youth as well.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan in the team's war room during the 2023 NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh has an elite cornerback in Joey Porter Jr. that needs to be extended, but the rest of the secondary is older and on shorter deals. A versatile, young player in the secondary is something the Steelers should be desperate for, and a player like Treydan Stukes fits that description. Stukes played his college football at Arizona, and he was a jack-of-all-trades due to constant coaching changes. He has spent time playing cornerback on the outside, in the slot, and at safety. He played over 500 career snaps at each of those spots, showing off his elite versatility.
Adam Schefter wrote about Stukes in a recent piece for ESPN, and he also shared what he has been hearing about Stukes from some executives around the league.
"One NFL general manager called Stukes, 'One of the best safeties I've seen [in my time as a GM],' and added he would draft him ahead of Ohio State safety Caleb Downs," Schefter wrote. "'This guy makes freaky plays that I haven't seen other safeties make.' It would not be a shock to see Stukes sneak into Round 1."
Stukes is the type of player that the Steelers need. He can play in the slot as mentioned, which is an area that Pittsburgh has been hurting in, in recent years, and his versatility has always been something that the organization has looked for in players. He is an intriguing prospect, and the Steelers have shown interest in him.
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Former Arizona defender Treydan Stukes picks off a pass while playing in a road game at Arizona State.
Stukes' versatility stems from the fact that he underwent a lot of coaching changes throughout his college career at Arizona. He spent six seasons at the school, which is a nice display of loyalty. However, it does mean he is on the older side of things when it comes to being a prospect, which has been knocked in the past by NFL teams. Beat writer Mike DeFabo of The Athletic had the Steelers selecting Stukes in the second round of his mock draft on Monday, which stems from the fact that the organization had the defensive back in the building for a pre-draft visit.
"A versatile defensive back, Stukes played for three different head coaches and five coordinators," DeFabo wrote. "All that change meant Stukes had to wear a variety of hats in the secondary, with 1,174 career snaps in the nickel, 943 at outside corner and 503 at safety. With 4.33 speed and a coach-like demeanor, he could step in and fill an immediate need as a free safety. Over time, he could contribute in the nickel and outside. New defensive coordinator Patrick Graham loves to disguise coverages and Stukes’s flexibility would be an asset."
What is insanely impressive about Stukes is not his versatility, but it is his character. It is amazing that in today's world of NIL deals and the transfer portal that he withstood three head coaching changes and five coordinator changes without quitting on his school. That is something that NFL teams should take note of.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan standing on sidelines before an NFL game.
Steelers May Have To Get Creative To Land Treydan Stukes
DeFabo had the Steelers being able to grab Stukes with the 53rd overall pick. Based on what Schefter has been hearing, the defensive back probably won't be on the board at that time. Thankfully the Steelers have tons of draft capital and can attempt to move up the board, which might be the best idea. Stukes could sneak into the first round, which would probably take him out of the realm of possibility for Pittsburgh.
What do you think about the Steelers finding a way to get Stukes? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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