3 top candidates to be Pittsburgh Steelers nickel cornerback in 2021
By Tommy Jaggi
The Pittsburgh Steelers have some interesting choices to man the nickel cornerback position on their defense in 2021.
Steelers fans and media personnel thought they had things just about figured out with Pittsburgh’s starting lineup in 2021. That is until they threw us a curveball to open up training camp. Contrary to what we had thought, the team’s initial depth chart has a few surprises.
Perhaps the biggest surprises come at the nickel cornerback position. Most believe that James Pierre or even Justin Layne would be in line for a much larger role in the secondary this season. Though these cornerbacks could still prove to earn significant snaps, the team seems set to go in a different direction.
While I may not agree with their methods at the time being, here are Pittsburgh’s top three candidates to man the slot cornerback position in 2021:
Antoine Brooks Jr.
If you have been following along closely to begin training camp, this is a name that you’ve probably heard about a few times. Antoine Brooks Jr. recently intercepted a pass from Ben Roethlisberger while playing nickel cornerback. In fact, to the surprise of many, Brooks is currently listed atop the depth chart at the nickel cornerback position.
This is a very interesting decision, as Brooks entered the NFL in 2020 as a 220-pound strong safety. His 4.64 speed isn’t the only concerning aspect of his game. Coming out of Maryland, many thought he would transition to more of a hybrid linebacker in the NFL due to his size, sub-par athletic traits, and play style.
Whether or not Antoine Brooks will be good enough to remain at the top of Pittsburgh’s depth chart at nickel cornerback remains to be seen. I know the coaches like him, and I don’t doubt his ability as a run defender, but he has me worried in pass coverage.