With the 2017 NFL Draft now over and the bulk of the heavy lifting done with regard to the roster building process now out of the way, it is easier to begin to take stock of where the Pittsburgh Steelers stand at certain positions, and what the implications might be of a variety of moves for certain players.
And take stock is what we shall do, as every move has ramifications up and down the roster, so now we will take a look at some specific players and see how the team’s moves during the course of the offseason thus far, and more specifically since the draft, have sent their stock rising, falling, or breaking even.
Player: CB Senquez Golson
Stock Value: Down
When you are a young player who has spent your first two seasons on injured reserve and the team in the previous two drafts has added three additional players at your position, then it’s hard for your stock not to drop. That is the scenario that third-year cornerback Senquez Golson is currently starting down as we grind down the days of Phase Two of the offseason program.
During his rookie season, it was a chronic bothersome shoulder that saw him fail to even take part in training camp. Last year, he at least got in a couple of practices in Latrobe before he suffered a Lisfranc injury. He actually was on the 53-man roster for a good chunk of the year as the team held out hope that he could return that year, but other needs ultimately crept up and his roster spot was needed.
It’s not exactly apparent what his condition is now specifically—he hasn’t, for example, been spotted in any photos from the team’s website—but I presume he is working with the team, as I did with Ladarius Green before images confirmed that to be the case.
But we are not in any sort of demanding phase of the offseason, and there still have to be questions about Golson’s ability to perform following a foot injury. We probably won’t know a great deal more about that until OTAs, at least, and the preseason will have to be the most telling. Especially considering he has never played in a preseason game.
The top of the cornerback depth chart currently consists of Artie Burns and Ross Cockrell on the outside. William Gay is the heir apparent in the slot, while veteran Coty Sensabaugh was brought in during free agency. The Steelers also drafted Cameron Sutton and Brian Allen in the third and fifth rounds, respectively.
Odds are, the team is not going to carry seven cornerbacks in the 53-man roster, even if they carry only four safeties, although it is possible. Even if he shows his foot to be healthy, there’s a reasonable chance that he fails to make the roster, whether it is due to sub-par play or simply being outperformed, with a twist of upside from the rookies—both of whom are notably taller.
