Steelers: Examining draft prospects at cornerback
The Steelers may have signed a future Hall of Famer in Patrick Peterson during free agency, but the team is still in need of youthful vigor at one of the league's critical positions. That means the NFL Draft will be paramount in the development of the Steelers secondary, with the right pick potentially propelling the […]
The Steelers may have signed a future Hall of Famer in Patrick Peterson during free agency, but the team is still in need of youthful vigor at one of the league's critical positions.
That means the NFL Draft will be paramount in the development of the Steelers secondary, with the right pick potentially propelling the Steelers to the playoffs and beyond.
Corner is a position where, when it hits, the impact can be felt immediately, even when the player is a rookie. So with that being said, here are the cornerback prospects that I believe can contribute on day one of the NFL season.
Steelers: Examining draft prospects at cornerback
Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
Joey Porter Jr. isn't an obvious choice because he shares the last name of Steelers legend and former linebacker Joey Porter Sr., rather he is the type of corner that Pittsburgh likes.
Why is that?
Porter has absurd length, literally rivaling the wingspan of offensive and defensive linemen.
At the NFL Combine Porter Jr.'s measurables were off the chart including:
- 6'2 1/2' height
- 193 Pounds
- 34' arms
- 10' hands
Think it's fair to say Porter Jr. struck the gene pool of his father, and not just in measurables but in playstyle as well.
A physical, press corner that can turn and run as well, Porter Jr. isn't the smoothest in his transitions but he doesn't have to be in order to be effective in the Steelers defense.
At 14 on the consensus board, Porter Jr. may be in a prime position to be selected by Pittsburgh at 17.
Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
Banks would be my second choice for the Steelers should Porter Jr. be off the board at 17, given his elite athleticism yet oversized frame.
At over 6 feet and nearly 200 pounds, Banks had the best athletic testing score amongst all cornerback prospects at the 2023 NFL Combine per Next Gen Stats. Those numbers included:
- 4.35 40-yard dash
- 1.49 10-yard split
- 42' vert
- 11'4'' broad
Slated at 23 on the consensus board, Banks may be rising fast, making him an easy choice if the board falls the Steelers way.
Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Let's say Pittsburgh's top two choices (ok, my top two choices) are gone by 17.
Instead of reaching for a prospect that may not fit, or over-drafting a corner that does, the Steelers should take a tackle or the best player available, waiting until pick 32 and selecting Kelee Ringo from Georgia.
Ringo is a physical corner that dominates wide receivers on the perimeter but also has elite long speed, evident by his 4.36 40 at 6'2'' and nearly 210 pounds when performing in Indianapolis.
Sitting at 38 on the consensus board, I would be fine with Ringo being selected at 32.
While the cornerback class is one of the deeper groups in the 2023 draft, I feel that these three prospects are both attainable given Pittsburgh's draft positioning and able to start day one in the Steelers scheme.
There is a chance that Pittsburgh has even fewer prospects that fit those parameters, and the possibility they view other corners as potential fits.
But that's the best part of the draft, so we'll have to wait until April 27th to find out.
