4 Steelers whose stock is skyrocketing entering game vs Bills

Steelers CB James Pierre

I think James Pierre has done enough over his first two seasons to earn a bigger look with the defense this year, but we’ve got to admit that he’s been incredibly fortunate throughout the entire process leading up to Week 1.

After the team signed just a low-end free agent CB in Arther Maulet this past offseason, they ignored the cornerback position entirely with nine picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. This was despite losing both Mike Hilton and Steven Nelson this offseason.

Now, not only did Pierre make the Steelers 53-man roster (which was expected), but the team only kept 4 cornerbacks on their roster initially before Maulet was signed back after three players landed on IR. While it’s possible that Pittsburgh could still trade for a cornerback or sign one in free agency that could carve out a significant role, it looks like Pierre is in line for a massive uptick in snaps this year as the team’s 3rd cornerback. It looks like he will be the starter in nickel and dime packages this year.

These four players still have plenty to prove, but they won’t be lacking opportunities. Let’s see if they can make the most of their changes and become players the Steelers can count on moving forward.