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Finding playing time for 3 cover corners won't be an issue for Steelers coach Mike Tomlin

Joe Rutter
| Thursday, July 24, 2025 8:00 a.m.
Chaz Palla | TribLive
Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. covers Calvin Austin III on Thursday.

No two dogs, one bone scenario will be necessary in training camp this year for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Or in the case of the team’s veteran cornerbacks: three dogs, two bones.

The Steelers already had former second-round pick Joey Porter Jr. at one corner spot and found a complementary piece when they signed Darius Slay in free agency. They added a third member — and one of the most prolific cover corners in the NFL — when the Steelers traded for Jalen Ramsey in late June.

That’s three candidates for two outside cornerback spots. One of the trio will have to rotate to the slot or one of the safety spots. He won’t just be relegated to a spot on the bench.

Coach Mike Tomlin ruled out that scenario Wednesday when the Steelers reported to training camp.

“Make no mistake,” Tomlin said, “those top three corners I mentioned … they’re going to be on the field. I don’t care what the offenses come out in.”

It doesn’t matter if it’s multiple tight ends or, in most cases second-and-long and third-and-long situations, three receivers. Tomlin will find a spot on defense for Ramsey, Slay and Porter.

“You need unbelievable depth and talent at the cornerback position, because people have it in their receiver corps,” Tomlin said. “We use a variety of schematics in an effort to minimize passing offenses. You’ve got to be able to play matchup football, play man to man, particularly against the elite and deep groups.”

The Steelers face one such group twice a year in the Cincinnati Bengals. They have established stars in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Chase had the wide receiver version of the triple crown in 2024, leading the NFL in catches (127), yards (1,708) and touchdowns (17). Higgins added 73 catches for 911 yards and 10 scores.

Teams used 11 personnel packages — one running back, one tight end, three receivers — more than any other formation in 2024, running it on 60.7% of all offensive plays.

“When you’ve got guys like Jalen Ramsey and Slay and JPJ, we can match up and play man-to-man versus anyone,” Tomlin said. “That is what is exciting to us, our ability to match up and play man-to-man against anyone in this game. I think it’s going to do nothing but strengthen our schematics, the supplemental things, the zone pressures, the bogus pressure and things of that nature.”

Tomlin even name-dropped Brandin Echols, who seemed to get lost in the shuffle after signing a two-year, $6 million contract at the outset of free agency. Echols doesn’t have the pedigree of the other corners and started just five games over the past three seasons with the New York Jets.

“We’ve done an awesome job fortifying that corner position from a talent and depth standpoint that’s going to allow us to match up against some of the many explosive units and players within them that we compete against,” Tomlin said.

While the Steelers strengthened the cornerback group by acquiring Ramsey, they weakened the free safety spot when they shipped Minkah Fitzpatrick to Miami in that three-player deal.

Juan Thornhill is a candidate to replace Fitzpatrick. Ramsey also could see snaps at safety, although Tomlin hesitated to designate a new position to the three-time All-Pro player.

“We’re going to start him regardless,” he said. “Where we move him around and things really depends on what offenses are doing.”

Tomlin also was reluctant to affix a label to Slay, a six-time Pro Bowl selection who earned a Super Bowl ring last season with the Philadelphia Eagles.

“They are coverage people,” Tomlin said. “Describe them however you wish to describe them. They’re capable of covering eligibles and minimizing the time and success of the offensive passing game.”


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