Steelers draft: Breaking down the top-4 cornerback options in the NFL Draft

CB Ahmad Gardner

Ahmad Gardner has risen through the ranks this season and he is now atop the best cornerbacks in the 2022 class. Gardner is 6′ 3″ and coming out of Cincinnati as a junior. He has been a starter since his freshman year and has remained consistent in all aspects of his game. Gardner plays his best when he is in zone coverage and uses his aggressiveness to play the ball or bait the quarterback. His press coverage is also another top trait of his and this would be very helpful if the Steelers end up taking him because of all the speed at the receiver in the AFC North.

Another part of his game that should not go unnoticed is his ability to also be very decent in man coverage. His height, speed, and other physical attributes come into a factor here, but Joe Marino from The Draft Network says that he can be a bit touchy and draw penalties, and he would like to see him trust his athleticism more.

Ahmed “Sauce” Gardner also shows up in the more physical parts of the game as well and is a good aggressive tackler, but consistency is an issue. I think it’s safe to say that this would be a player most of us would like to see the Steelers draft if he is available at 20th overall. With added notes like he is a threat to take the ball away and he has soft hands to intercept passes, he could be a real problem for opposing offenses once he gets some NFL experience and gets chemistry with the defense.