Ranking the Steelers 6 best solutions at slot cornerback

The Steelers sign Poole

One of the best-fitting free agents still on the market for the Steelers is Brian Poole. The veteran slot corner has been a good-not-great option so far in his career, and while he is a little older at 29, he still has a few good years of football left in him. While his size restricts him only to the slot, that shouldn’t be a huge deal considering the number of outside options the team has on the roster currently.

While currently from Atlanta, Poole enjoyed a good two seasons with the Jets. Over those two seasons, he started 17 total games, recorded three interceptions, and had a quarterback rating of 91.3 in 2019 and 61.6 in 2020. Both of those numbers showcase the coverage skills that Poole has. It is pretty shocking to still see him on the open market, but he would make a lot of sense for the Steelers to target.

Unlike Conley, Poole is a specific player here, as he is easily the best slot-capable cornerback still available on the open market. If signed, he would instantly step in as the full-time starter in the slot and allow Sutton to focus on playing on the outside full-time. His run defense would be a slight step back from what Hilton provided, but even then, Poole is easily the best option that is not currently on the roster.