Worst-case scenarios for every Steelers pick in 2021 draft

Round 3:

The Steelers have a clear and obvious need at cornerback. Cutting Steven Nelson means the team is down a starter, but luckily this draft is deep at corner. The issue is, after the second round, the outside options seem to dry up. In theory, this isn’t the end of the world since Cameron Sutton has inside and outside flexibility. The issue is if the team wants to keep Sutton on the inside and draft an outside cornerback, waiting until round three would be a mistake.

The reason for this is simple: the team would expect this rookie to see significant snaps despite being raw as a prospect. I choose Benjamin St-Juste, but take any of the outside cornerbacks that are projected to go in or after the third. These are developmental prospects at their best, meaning they need an extra season or two before becoming a starter.

If the Steelers take St-Juste due to his size and potential and then throw him out to the wolves, don’t be surprised when another cornerback prospect falls flat for the team. If the team opts to wait on selecting a corner, they should target more of a slot option. These players typically have less value meaning a better slot corner could be available. Taking a developmental outside option and expecting them to start could lead to a disastrous result.