Steelers Rookie "Turned Heads" Becoming Biggest Surprise Of OTA's

The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2026 NFL Draft class addressed several spots of need, including positions that are looking for starters now and some who will prepare the team for the future. The draft, which was hosted by the city of Pittsburgh, saw the Steelers brass make 10 draft picks. Pittsburgh continued its trend of taking big men in the first round, making that the fourth year in a row taking either an offensive or defensive lineman. The Steelers selected offensive tackle Max Iheanachor with the 21st overall pick and added players on both sides of the ball for the remainder of the draft.  The rookies have gotten their first taste of offseason activities as professional players, and already, some are turning heads.

With multiple picks, the Steelers added some talent to their defense. The group had an underwhelming 2025 season, given it was the league's highest-paid and second-oldest unit. The expectation for this year is that they will bounce back and play up to the standard that they were expected to last year. The Steelers have had some dominant defenses over the years, and for the team as a whole to succeed, it needs a strong defense. 

One of the draft picks addressed one of the areas of concern, which was depth in the secondary. The Black and Gold had three third-round picks, one of them being used on a cornerback who has a ton of intangibles, like blazing speed. The Steelers used the 85th overall pick on University of Georgia defensive back Daylen Everette. So far, he's been receiving a ton of praise in minicamp and Organized Team Activities (OTAs). ESPN's Brooke Pryor wrote that he was the biggest surprise of the offseason so far. 

"Everette, one of the Steelers' three third-round draft picks, turned heads with a larger-than-expected role in minicamp, as cornerback Joey Porter Jr. limited his participation while hoping for a contract extension. The player out of Georgia held his own as he battled with wide receiver DK Metcalf and got his hands on several passes," Pryor wrote. 

Everette's play already is a great sign for the future of the Steelers' defense. With players like Porter, who is still amidst negotiations on a long-term deal, it will be important to develop key young players in the secondary. 

Everette is still a raw prospect, but rising to the challenge against one of the league's best in Metcalf is a huge deal. Though it's still very early, Pittsburgh having a solid young option next to Porter is vital. The Steelers have lacked a solid number-two option the past few years. Though they signed Jamel Dean to a contract during free agency to fill the role, it doesn't hurt to have a dynamic young player there as well. Everette's pure athleticism is what made him such an interesting prospect; he ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the combine, and his footwork jumped out at many. 

He logged two Third Team All-SEC honors as a Bulldog (2024 and 2025) and made huge interceptions in each of the last two SEC title games. Everette could have a larger role than expected with the Steelers in his rookie year. 

The Steelers' Secondary Is Much Improved In 2026

With Porter continuing to reach stardom, the Steelers have a lockdown corner to face the opposition's number-one pass catcher. With the addition of a quality corner like Dean, that makes two big-time defensive backs on the defense. Not to mention, the depth, with Jalen Ramsey playing a role as a seemingly "positionless" player who could line up at corner and guys like Asante Samuel Jr. and Brandin Echols, along with Everette. 

This group is much improved from top to bottom, and the defense should be a no-fly zone with this group of corners. Pittsburgh needed a shutdown secondary, and it is set up to be that way with this group. 

#SteelerNation