Steven Nelson wasn’t considered a household name in free agency. In fact, even some people that follow football closely probably didn’t notice him over the past four season. But that doesn’t mean that he’s not ready to make an impact for the Steelers in 2019.
The Steelers haven’t made a very big splash in free agency over the past decade. They don’t bring in the Ndamukong Suh’s or the Earl Thomas’s of the world. Rather, they choose to press their luck with younger, cheaper options in free agency.
Some of the biggest names they have signed in recent years include Ladarius Green, Mike Mitchell, and DeAngelo Williams.
Though Steven Nelson fits the bill of a traditional Kevin Colbert signing, he may be able to offer more than some of Pittsburgh’s past free agent pickups.
Steven Nelson is getting prepped for the 2019 season in a new uniform. He spoke with the media about getting on the field and working opposite of cornerback, Joe Haden:
"Everybody's in tune with each other. Everybody's ready to practice every day."
— DK Pittsburgh Sports (@DKPghSports) May 21, 2019
Steven Nelson is loving his early interactions with Pittsburgh — on the football field and beyond. #dkps #steelers pic.twitter.com/Kt8yVeyTQ6
Steven Nelson (@Nelson_Island) is loving life in #Pittsburgh — and he's especially loving life opposite Joe Haden (@joehaden23) on the field. @HunterAHomistek has the full report from the Rooney Complex: https://t.co/jFitZtIVMb
— DK Pittsburgh Sports (@DKPghSports) May 21, 2019
Though it’s obviously too early to tell if Steven Nelson will be a free agent success story or fall by the wayside, he possesses the confidence and toughness Pittsburgh covets on their defense.
As a 25-year old cornerback with the Chiefs last season, Nelson racked up 68 tackles, 15 pass defenses, and 4 interceptions. He may have allowed the second most yards in the league among cornerbacks in 2018, but that was partially because teams threw a record number of times against the Chiefs last season (trying to play catch-up in most games).
Nelson rated out as the 21st best cornerback of 2018, according to Pro Football Focus, and he is the clear front-runner to start at right cornerback opposite of Joe Haden in 2019. I recently wrote about how solid cornerback play could help improve the Steelers’ pass rush. Nelson will put that theory to the test.
I can’t recall the last time the Steelers have had a very good pairing of cornerbacks. Perhaps that will change in 2019. Steven Nelson seems ready to go.
There’s little doubt he should be an improvement of the porous combination of Coty Sensabaugh and Artie Burns in 2018. The question is how much better will he be?