Steelers GM reveals reasoning behind a head-scratching roster move
The Pittsburgh Steelers turned some heads when they decided to release veteran corner and starting nickel defender Arthur Maulet. A serviceable starter on a cheap deal that was coming off a career year, Maulet hasn't even turned 30 yet and the Steelers incurred losses throughout the secondary this offseason, leaving pundits to ponder about the […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers turned some heads when they decided to release veteran corner and starting nickel defender Arthur Maulet.
A serviceable starter on a cheap deal that was coming off a career year, Maulet hasn't even turned 30 yet and the Steelers incurred losses throughout the secondary this offseason, leaving pundits to ponder about the move.
But after his most recent public appearance on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh, Steelers GM Omar Khan has let his reasoning be known.
Maulet played the last two seasons in Pittsburgh, coming off a career year in 2022 where he saw highs in interceptions (1), sacks (2), and tackles (59). The 29-year-old corner will only save $1 million dollars against the cap, signaling a change of direction at the position.
And that change is now obvious, as Khan has signaled a new identity at the slot corner or nickelback position by way of Chandon Sullivan, Duke Dawson, or maybe even seventh-round pick Cory Trice Jr.
Sullivan was signed over draft weekend and will be re-teaming with another former Viking corner in Patrick Peterson, adding depth and continuity to a cornerback room that suddenly looks promising following the additions of Peterson, Porter Jr., and Trice Jr.
Duke Dawson was a second-round pick by the New England Patriots in the 2018 draft, but he has failed to see action since the 2020 season. It's surprising to see that Khan has endorsed him but perhaps they see upward potential in the 27-year-old corner.
Trice may have slipped to the seventh round of last month's draft, but it wasn't because of the on-field product, but rather injury concerns. Here is what Dane Brugler of The Athletic had to say about Trice:
A four-year starter at Purdue, Trice was an outside cornerback in former co-defensive coordinator Ron English’s scheme. After a long road back from his 2021 knee injury, he showed noticeable rust on his 2022 tape but still graded well and posted a team-best 12 passes defended (with only one pass interference flag). An impressive height/weight/speed athlete, Trice passes the eye test with flying colors, and his testing numbers reflect his above-average athletic traits. He is a little bit of a cornerback-safety tweener and needs to play with better pad level for quicker recoveries, but he displays a great feel for reading breaks and flashes GGI (goand-get-it) skills. Overall, Trice might never be a high-level technician, but he has exceptional size, speed and change-of-direction skills to be a disruptive cover man both early and late in the rep. He offers position versatility with starting potential in press-man or Cover 3 schemes.
So while it may be sad to see Maulet go, Steelers fans should be excited about the future of the slot corner position. Maulet will likely fall on his feet, garnering a stint with another franchise, while Khan, Weidl, and Co. create the roster of tomorrow.
