The 2016 season is unfortunately over, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are now embarking upon their latest offseason journey, heading back to the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, formerly known and still referred to as the ‘South Side’ facility of Heinz Field. While the postseason is now behind us, there is plenty left to discuss.
And there are plenty of questions left unanswered as well. The offseason is just really the beginning phase of the answer-seeking process, which is lasts all the way through the Super Bowl for teams fortunate enough to reach that far.
You can rest assured that we have the questions, and we will be monitoring the developments in the offseason as they develop, and beyond, looking for the answers as we look to evaluate the makeup of the Steelers as they try to navigate their way back to the Super Bowl, after reaching the AFC Championship game last season for the first time in more than half a decade.
Question: Does cornerback still remain a significant ‘want’ heading into the third day of the draft?
Thus far, over the course of the 2017 offseason, the Steelers in addressing their secondary retained Ross Cockrell as their starting left outside cornerback, inked veteran versatile defender Coty Sensabaugh to shore up depth, and, last night, drafted Cameron Sutton in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, a player who most believe will most likely play inside with outside capability.
Let me guess, you want another cornerback don’t you?
The Steelers entered this draft recognizing it was one of the deepest at the cornerback position in a while, but it would seem that they didn’t find the value at the position they were looking for in the first two rounds. The Ravens ended up with Marlon Humphrey, for example, while Chidobe Awuzie came off the board a couple spots before them yesterday.
The secondary was bombarded early and often on Day Two, and even the likes of Shaquille Griffin were picked up before their third-round pick. Coming into a draft that was supposed to be so deep, they haven’t found themselves in the right spots to capitalize on the value.
Sutton gives the Steelers at least four cornerbacks that are guaranteed to make the roster, and likely even five, with Senquez Golson the dark horse if he can come in and show that he is not limited by his injuries.
But there is still some meat on the bone at the position, and perhaps upgrades can still be made. You will see my opinion on this later in the day, surely.
I think the answer is obvious as to whether or not the majority here wants the Steelers to take another cornerback here. That may not necessarily be the same answer to the question of whether or not another cornerback is a significant ‘want’—that is, a ‘soft’ need—after adding two to the room already this offseason.
