Despite bleak draft history, Steelers could be tempted by 'strong' cornerback draft class

As the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for the NFL Draft, they can take comfort in knowing they fortified the cornerback position in free agency.

By signing Ahkello Witherspoon and Levi Wallace to matching two-year, $8 million contracts, the Steelers are set on the outside for at least the 2022 season. Those transactions also allow Cameron Sutton to move back inside, a position of familiarity during four of his five years with the franchise.

Backup Arthur Maulet also returned on a two-year deal, and the Steelers still have James Pierre and Justin Layne under contract.

All of this means the Steelers don’t have any urgency to use a high draft pick on a cornerback when the draft kicks off April 28.

And based on their track record, that is a good thing.

The last time the Steelers used a first-round pick on a corner was 2016, when they drafted Artie Burns, who was a full-time starter for just one of his four years with the organization. Before that, it was back in 1997 when the Steelers used a first-rounder on Chad Scott.

Some of the picks used in the Mike Tomlin era didn’t quite meet expectations. It’s an underwhelming group that includes Curtis Brown, Cortez Allen, Doran Grant, Senquez Golson and even Layne, a third-round choice in 2019. Sutton is the rare corner who received a second contract.

General manager Kevin Colbert, who is presiding over his final draft with the Steelers, used the word “strong” to label this year’s cornerback class, an assessment shared by Tampa Bay GM Jason Licht.

“There are some good corners and safeties in this draft,” Licht said. “I don’t know if the numbers are as high as they’ve been in the past — in terms of the top of the draft — but there is a lot of depth in the middle-to-late rounds at those positions.”

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah called the class “solid,” but ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. added this caveat: “There are a lot of hit-or-miss guys.”

One prospect who everyone agrees is the cream of the crop in 2022 is Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner of Cincinnati, who stands 6-foot-3 and didn’t allow a receiving touchdown in his three years with the Bearcats. His play on defense helped Cincinnati reach the college football playoff.

Gardner could go as high as No. 2 to Detroit.

NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks said Gardner is the “long, rangy cover corner every defensive coordinator is looking for to man the island,” adding that he “displays exceptional bump-and-run skills, but he is also an instinctive defender with the capacity to thrive as a ballhawk in zone coverage.”

Two other corners that might also be taken in the top half of the first round are LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr. and Washington’s Trent McDuffie.

Injuries have kept Stingley from being considered the top corner in his class, but he is healthy and ran the 40 in 4.37 seconds at LSU’s pro day. McDuffie covered the distance in 4.4 seconds at the NFL Combine.

“After that, there is a dropoff,” Kiper said.

Clemson’s Andrew Booth Jr. is another potential first-round candidate. He is coming off sports hernia surgery earlier this year that could slow him early when team workouts begin for rookies.

Auburn’s Roger McCreary, Florida’s Kaiir Elam and Washington’s Kyler Gordon are second-round possibilities.

This year’s class also contains some players who could get a look based on speed alone. Baylor’s Kalon Barnes ran a 4.23 40 at the NFL Combine, and Texas-San Antonio’s Tariq Woolen was right behind with a 4.26. That makes Gardner, who ran a 4.41, look slow by comparison.

Top 5 cornerbacks

1. Sauce Gardner, Cincinnati, Jr., 6-3, 200

The American Athletic Conference Player of the Year, Gardner had 40 tackles (4.5 for loss), three sacks, three interceptions and four pass breakups in 14 games.

2. Derek Stingley Jr., LSU, Jr., 6-1, 195

The grandson of the late Darryl Stingley, he was a first-team All-American as a freshman in 2019, but he has missed time to illness and injuries the past two seasons. A foot injury limited him to three starts in 2021.

3. Trent McDuffie, Washington, Jr., 5-11, 195

A three-year starter for the Huskies, McDuffie seems to always be around the ball even though he doesn’t have the interceptions to show it. He had just two picks in 28 career games. He broke up six passes last year but did not have an interception.

4. Andrew Booth Jr, Clemson, Jr., 6-0, 200

He led Clemson with three interceptions last year while breaking up five other passes. He had five interceptions in two seasons as a starter.

5. Roger McCreary, Auburn, Sr., 5-11, 190

He played in 42 games over his four years at Auburn and finished with 135 tackles, six interceptions and 32 pass breakups.

Best fit for Steelers, first day

Andrew Booth Jr., Clemson

Moves made during the offseason to address the position likely take the Steelers out of the cornerback mix in the first round. Still, Booth has the size and speed to be a starting outside corner for years to come.

Best fit for Steelers, second day

Kyler Gordon, Washington

Carrying a second-round grade, Gordon teamed with McDuffie to give the Huskies a pair of all-conference corners in the Pac-12. He had two interceptions and seven pass breakups last season.

Best fit for Steelers, third day

Damarri Mathis, Pitt

The Steelers should be familiar with the 5-11, 195-pound Mathis given their relationship with Pitt. He started 13 games and had two interceptions before opting out of the bowl game so he could prepare for the draft.