3 Bengals roster bubble players the Steelers should target

Steelers should target Darius Phillips

Like their offensive line, the Bengals added considerable pieces to their cornerback room during the offseason. The two main names were Chidobe Awuzie and former Steelers corner Mike Hilton. With their slot cornerback now set, some are wondering what will happen to Darius Phillips. As of now, he seems squarely on the roster bubble.

Phillips was seen mostly as a return man when he was set to get drafted, but he has found some limited success as a coverage player since entering the league. He recorded four interceptions in 2019 and played over 50 percent of the defensive snaps in 2020. That extended playing time didn’t do him many favors, as he gave up a quarterback rating of 92.4 (the worst of his career). Add in the new faces in the cornerback along with his limitations in the slot and he may be out the door after training camp.

He could hold a variety of roles with the Steelers if they decided to add him to the roster. While Ray-Ray McCloud is the current kick returner, adding another body there to compete is never a bad thing. As well, he could be another name to throw into the slot cornerback competition. Phillips would be a low-cost depth option that fills a variety of roles for this team.