A slot or outside CB, free-agent signee Brandin Echols seeks starting role for Steelers

While he has a slight preference, Brandin Echols is less concerned about where he lines up with his new team as much as when he first takes the field in a game.

Outside cornerback or slot/nickel isn’t as important to Echols as if he’s with the first-team defense for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I’m coming in and, obviously, trying to compete for a starting spot,” Echols said Thursday during an introductory news conference at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “That’s where I see myself. That’s what I’ve always seen myself as since I came to the league. I’m glad they took a chance on me to sign me, and I’m just here ready to ball and compete.”

Newly-signed CB Brandoin Echols came to the Steelers to compete to start pic.twitter.com/sUcaQ6QIvz

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The 5-foot-11, 179-pound Echols signed a two-year deal with the Steelers. On the depth chart, as it stands in March, he is likely to compete with Cory Trice to be the top backup at outside cornerback to Joey Porter Jr. and the newly-signed Darius Slay, or competing with incumbent Beanie Bishop as the starting slot/nickel.

Over his four years with the New York Jets since being drafted in the sixth round in 2021, Echols has played at both CB spots.

“I’m versatile,” he said, “but right now, I’m just trying to see where I can fit in, see where I’m comfortable at and taking it from there.”

Now up @TribSports--New Steeler Brandin Echols on former Jets teammate Aaron Rodgers...."Hell,yeah! Tell his ass to come on."https://t.co/UnRk9USEdN @TribSports

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Echols did say he felt more comfortable on the outside, and that’s the spot he played more often last season and as a rookie four years ago. In 2022 and 2023, Echols more often lined up on the inside.

After making 14 starts in 2021, Echols mostly filled a subpackage and backup role with the Jets. He has made only five starts over the past three seasons, during which he played less than one-fifth of the team’s defensive snaps.

“I would say it’s a different dynamic when you’re playing inside corner, because you’ve got a different role than what it is outside,” said Echols, who plays extensively on special teams. “On the outside, you focus primarily just on that receiver on this side, because it’s going to, technically, turn to (man-to-man) after a while. With nickel, you’ve got run scheme, you’ve got stunts that you’ve got to go over with the D-line, zone coverage you’ve got to drop into.”