Steelers mock draft: Pittsburgh shops from their pre-draft visit list

Steelers mock draft round 3: CB Marcus Jones

Marcus Jones is one of the most electrifying prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Houston cornerback intercepted 5 passes as a senior in 2021 and was a phenomenal return man in college — taking 6 kick returns and 3 punt returns to the house over his four-year career.

Jones has fantastic speed and quickness to go with his aggressive playstyle. The biggest issue with Jones is that he’s bite-sized. The standout CB measured in at just 5’8” and 174 pounds at the combine. The collection of his height, weight, and arm length (28 7/8”) make him one of the smallest cornerbacks on record since 1999, according to Mockdraftable’s database.

Still, Jones is a special enough return man that he deserves to be a third-round pick for his ability in this department alone. On defense, Jones may be smaller than any player he gets matched up against. However, his fiery, competitive toughness, elite ball skills, and ability to stick with a WR make him a strong bet here.

Jones was so dynamic that Houston even had him playing offense last year. The Steelers found a punt returner in Gunner Olszewski this offseason, but Jones would add elite speed another slot CB to their defense. The Steelers brought him in for a pre-draft visit and there is clearly interest here.