Antoine Winfield will be on Steelers radar if he falls to pick 49 in the NFL Draft

The Steelers will have dozens of options to consider in the second round of the NFL Draft his year. Here’s why Antoine Winfield could be at the top of their list.

With the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the nation, this will be the first time since I started studying the draft that we won’t be able to track the Steelers visits and get a gauge of their interest level.

In the past, Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert had Pro Day visits and dinner meetings with players like T.J. Watt, Bud Dupree, and Terrell Edmunds, and it wasn’t hard to narrow down the possibilities with their first-round pick. This year, it will be especially hard to figure out who the Steelers could take with their first pick – not only because of the pandemic, but because their first selection doesn’t come until pick 49 overall.

Still, as I have done every year, I will do my best to predict which players will be on Pittsburgh’s radar. One of the more unusual prospects they could be eyeing is Minnesota safety, Antoine Winfield Jr.

Winfield is the son of long-time Bills and Vikings defensive back, Antoine Winfield Sr. Winfield Sr. started 173 games throughout his 14-year career, and earned 3 Pro Bowl appearances in the process.

We all know full well how the Steelers covet family bloodlines. They traded up to the 10th overall pick last season to draft Devin Bush Jr. – a player whose father spent 8 seasons as an NFL safety. They are also the only team in the league that currently has two separate sets of brothers set to play together on the same team (Trey and Terrell Edmunds, T.J. and Derek Watt).

But Pittsburgh’s interest in Winfield will travel far beyond his family lineage. Winfield checks nearly every box the Steelers look for in an early draft pick. He’s a young, productive, athletic, and from a Power 5 program. Though the Steelers typically look for underclassmen early, Winfield is just 21 years old as a senior.

Winfield projects best as a strong safety in the NFL, and Terrell Edmunds is under contract for at least two more seasons. However, there is no doubt they could use some quality depth at the position.

In today’s NFL, teams can find plenty of packages to play three safeties together on the field at the same time. Ideally, the Steelers could kick Edmunds down to a nickel linebacker in sub-packages and get a fast, cover unit on the field together in obvious passing situations.

At the very least, Winfield would offer terrific depth and safety and give Edmunds a run for his money. While it’s not the biggest area of need on the team, Winfield is a guy that would be really hard for Pittsburgh to pass on if he ends up sliding to pick 49 in the NFL Draft.