The bulk of free agency is over. But that doesn’t mean the Pittsburgh Steelers are done shopping. Like the candy at the cash register, they still may add one or two pieces to their cart.
At their pre-draft press conference, Kevin Colbert was asked if we was comfortable with the lack of experience at cornerback. Beyond William Gay and Ross Cockrell, the corners have played one career snap, excluding futures contract Isaiah Frey.
While he and Mike Tomlin did feel comfortable with the group, Colbert added a post-draft signing isn’t out of the question.
“Are there still some guys on the street? It’s probably not a great market right now but that will change, we believe, over the next couple weeks as teams draft and they release some players.”
Jerraud Powers is arguably the top corner remaining on the market but based on Colbert’s words, and the team’s inaction in bringing anyone in, it doesn’t sound like anyone currently on the streets is going to wind up in Pittsburgh.
“We’ll put a capable secondary on the field. I’m not overly concerned about that,” Tomlin said.
Despite the internal confidence, depth is certainly a concern. Younger players who aren’t as versatile, a lot is riding on the presumed growth of Ross Cockrell, Senquez Golson, and Doran Grant. Cockrell at least has a chunk of tape to be looked at. Grant played one snap last season, a sip of that cup of coffee, while Golson never even made it to training camp.
It wouldn’t be surprising, and probably even encouraged, to see the team take a flier on a veteran corner. Of course, any team releasing a player in May isn’t shedding themselves of prized talent. Keep an eye on the waiver wire but even if Pittsburgh grabs someone, there’s no guarantee they crack the roster.
