When you look at the pre draft visitors that the Pittsburgh Steelers have had in thus far by position, it is becoming clear that the cornerback position will likely be addressed in the draft later this month.
The Steelers let unrestricted free agent cornerback Keenan Lewis walk via free agency uncontested, so that leaves Ike Taylor, Cortez Allen and William Gay, who was signed back prior to the start of free agency, as the only three who are locks to make the 53 man roster at this point.
Behind those three players sit Curtis Brown, DeMarcus Van Dyke, Josh Victorian, Justin King and Isaiah Green. While one of those five players might make the 53 man roster, the odds are good that the rest won\’t if the Steelers invest an early pick in another cornerback.
Last year, the Steelers kept only five cornerbacks on their opening week 53 man roster and the previous two seasons, they kept six. The flexibility of safety Robert Golden to play in the slot, might result in only five cornerbacks being kept again this year.
Brown enters his third year on the team and really needs a great training camp this year after disappointing so far. Van Dyke, who the Steelers claimed off of waivers just prior to the start of last season, has done nothing but draw penalties on special teams.
The Steelers addressed the cornerback position last year in the draft with the selection of Terrence Frederick in the seventh round, but he failed to not only make the 53 man roster, but the practice squad as well.
The Steelers have so many areas of need heading into this year\’s draft that it is hard to imagine them spending a fourth-round pick or higher on a cornerback, but it isn\’t impossible.
