With the Steelers likely double dipping at corner this year, let’s look at the options.
After months of speculation, draft season is winding to a close as the event we’ve all been waiting for plays out this weekend. That rush of air you hear is the collective exhale of football content creators everywhere.
The Steelers‘ needs heading into the draft are well-documented at this point. If you’re looking to catch up or do some last-minute prospect obsessing, I’ve already looked at potential mid-to-late round targets at offensive tackle, interior offensive line, wide receiver, edge rusher and defensive line.
That just leaves cornerback. Pittsburgh is stronger there than at other positions with Joey Porter Jr. showing he might be a franchise cornerstone after an impressive rookie season. The Steelers also traded for Donte Jackson who can provide solid coverage as the team’s second cornerback if he’s able to stay healthy. However, Jackson is only under contract for the 2024 season and not a player I project Pittsburgh handing an expensive contract after this season. Behind those two, things are much shakier with unproven talent making up the rest of the roster.
The Steelers should strongly consider double dipping at corner in this draft with a need at nickel corner and a potential replacement for Jackson in 2025.
Khyree Jackson, Oregon
Age: 24 (turns 25 in August)
Height/weight: 6’3, 194 pounds
Arm Length: 32 3/4″
RAS: 7.86
At nearly 6’4 and touting similar dimensions to Porter, Khyree Jackson is one of the more physically imposing cornerback prospects in this draft class.
The Steelers love tall, long-armed corners that excel in press coverage, and that’s Jackson’s bread and butter. He’s quicker than he is fast, but Pittsburgh has shown they aren’t bothered by “slow” 40-yard dash times like Jackson’s 4.50 mark.
There’s a lot to like about Jackson’s game and he’s my favorite corner prospect projected to be taken outside of the first round. I love corners who act like a menace on the field and get under opposing players’ skin, and in that regard, Jackson has what the kids would call “that dawg” in him.
While press-man coverage is his calling card, he’s shown strong instincts in off-man and zone coverage as well. In his final year in college, teams only targeted him 36 times and he surrendered just 188 yards while adding three interceptions. He’s enthusiastic and aggressive providing support in run defense, even if his tackling could be more consistent. And while he wasn’t asked to blitz much in college, he has the mentality and skills to do so should Pittsburgh want to get creative.
Khyree Jackson (CB8)
Elite length and size, allowing himself to win in press man. Good bend and UOH to jam receivers in press. Solid fluidity to switch his hips and transition to stay with his man. THREAD (1/3)⬇️
Second Round Grade
2024 #NFL Draft Prospect pic.twitter.com/fFn3HSGINO
— • Colton Edwards • (@cedwardsNFL) April 19, 2024
Jackson’s biggest red flag is his age. Starting his college career in 2019 at the junior college level, Jackson’s path to the NFL included two seasons at Alabama before transferring to Oregon for his final season. The fact that he’ll be 25 years old when the season starts is partly why he could be available late on Day 2 of the draft. Normally I’d write off a prospect as old as Jackson, but there was just too much to like on his film. That type of concern should eliminate him from being a first or second-round pick, but it is far less concerning the deeper you get in the draft. He might be a one-contract type of player for Pittsburgh, but he’s ready to start immediately should the Steelers want to get creative in subpackages or need to cover for an injury.
Andru Phillips, Kentucky
Age: 22 (turns 23 in November)
Height/weight: 5’11, 190 pounds
Arm Length: 31 1/4″
RAS: 8.13
Andru Phillips should be a name Steelers fans recognize at this point as he is one of the players Pittsburgh has brought in for a pre-draft visit. Once thought to be a fringe third or fourth-rounder, Phillips has seen some buzz as a possible second-round pick as the draft cycle has dragged on.
Phillips has been described in draft circles as the type of player whose best football might still be ahead of him after starting two seasons at Kentucky. He’s another prospect who plays with a notable edge on the field and those are the type of players you like to bet on when they also show off their athletic traits on tape.
Phillips has the long arms Pittsburgh prefers and projects as a player who can play outside at the NFL level, but could thrive in the nickel. His willingness to tackle and play physically should aid him there if Pittsburgh wants to move him inside. Phillips hasn’t generated as many turnovers as you’d like, but interceptions are a highly volatile stat and I’d take feisty, sound coverage every time and worry about his hands later.
The most Chiefsy corner in this draft class might be Kentucky’s Andru Phillips. This dude is PHYSICAL. Should thrive in press. A hitter in run support. Feisty. Versatile. Would fit KC’s scheme like a glove. pic.twitter.com/4qJV8iEMh5
— Adam Best (@Arrowhead_Adam) March 27, 2024
Renardo Green, Florida State
Age: 23
Height/weight: 6’0, 186 pounds
Arm Length: 31 1/4″
RAS: 8.21
Renardo Green is a prospect who projects as a pure press-man corner and he has shown versatility — a trait we know Mike Tomlin likes — by getting on the field early on in his college career as a safety.
Green’s most impressive film came this year against LSU and its two potential first-round wide receivers, Malik Nabors and Brian Thomas Jr.
RENARDO GREEN is the most exciting day 2 prospect.
He is a pure press-man technician who put Malik Nabers in PRISON:
While guarding Nabers:
• 1 interception
• 0 TDs allowed
• 1 PBU
• 5 targets
• 2 catches for 20 yards allowed https://t.co/CCuaqwgHLj pic.twitter.com/pokZ3KSGS4— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) April 19, 2024
The statline against LSU was impressive, but he isn’t without his blemishes. In the instances where he does gets beat off the press, he can struggle to track the ball while he is recovering the ground he gave up. He’s not a burner, checking in with similar 4.50 speed to other prospects the Steelers could target. That said, he excels at sticking to the receiver’s hip on shallow and intermediate routes and could be a useful player in Pittsburgh’s scheme.
Nehemiah Pritchett, Auburn
Age: 23
Height/weight: 6’0, 190 pounds
Arm Length: 31 5/8″
RAS: 7.79
Of the prospects we’re looking at today, Nehemiah Prichett is easily the fastest. Clocking in with a 4.36 40-time, you can easily gauge his speed on tape, especially when he’s breaking on throws from off-coverage. In addition to that, he checks a lot of the same boxes with long arms and sticky coverage in press.
Pritchett also got a ton of playing time in college, playing in 46 games across five seasons. He’s on tape playing in a variety of coverage styles that makes him reliable in any scenario Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Teryl Austin — formerly the Steelers’ secondary coach — could deploy him in. He doesn’t have the ball production you’d like with just three interceptions in college, but he has a knack for getting his hands in the way of the receiver with 24 pass breakups. You’ll live with that from your second-string corner.
Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Louisville
Age: 22 (turns 23 in July)
Height/weight: 5’10, 194 pounds
Arm Length: 31 1/4”
RAS: 4.62
Sometimes when you throw a prospect’s tape on, you can’t help seeing the potential even if they aren’t the most refined. That’s the case with Lousiville’s Jarvis Brownlee Jr. You might notice that Brownlee has the lowest RAS of any prospect I’ve written about in this series. Truth be told, I nearly didn’t write about him for that very reason. But what can I say? Brownlee Jr. plays the cornerback position like he’s in a street fight, and damn it, I like that competitive fire. His 4.51 40-time is not prohibitive and while you’d have liked to have seen more explosiveness in his broad jump, that isn’t a dealbreaker for me.
Jarvis Brownlee Jr’s tape is wild pic.twitter.com/Q1Kp2qXSyG
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) February 24, 2024
While the hope is he can develop into a capable starting press corner, NFL.com projects him as a potential fourth-round pick who could immediately be an impact player on special teams. That’s an underrated need for the Steelers after some key offseason departures like Miles Boykin. Brownlee could also potentially kick inside to nickel where he’d be a plus run defender fairly soon.
Brownlee’s college coaches describe him as a hard-working guy dedicated to the process of making sure his body is in the best condition he can have it. That’s an NFL mentality. Sign me up if it only takes a Day Three pick to get him in the building.
Myles Harden, South Dakota
Age: Unknown
Height/weight: 5’11, 195 pound
Arm Length: 29 7/8″
RAS: 8.30
Myles Harden two big knocks are that his arms are a little shorter than you’d like for a press corner and he played at a small school. He’s also better in zone coverage than at man at this point.
But like other prospects on this list, the young man plays with some demonstratable fire. While he had six career interceptions at the FCS level, his best trait is he’s a willing tackler with some impressive hits on tape. This rep against Mizzou had me literally laughing out loud as he threw the receiver out of the club on his way to tackle the running back in the flat. I guess it doesn’t always mean more in the SEC!
#SouthDakota DB Myles Harden wasn’t targeted much this past season (just 45 targets) but his willingness to be aggressive tackling in space really stood out.
Had a great combine testing session, I think his size lends more to him playing as a nickel at NFL level. pic.twitter.com/FUgtGguXEL
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) March 7, 2024
Projected as a seventh-rounder or priority undrafted free agent, Harden has that same swagger and grit that I like investing in once you reach the late rounds of the draft. Similar to Brownlee Jr., I could see an immediate special teams role for Harden while he waits to see snaps at corner.
What do you think? Do any of these players seem like Steelers to you? Did I miss any of your favorite prospects? Let us know in the comments and enjoy the draft this weekend!