The 25 most likely Steelers defensive targets in 2022 draft

Steelers defensive prospect #18

A name that has had one of the toughest pre-draft seasons so far, Derion Kendrick went from a safe day two pick with the potential to be a late first-round option now to a day three option. The reason for this? He weighed in smaller than expected and had some of the worst athletic testing of anyone in this class.

Kendrick does have some decent tape at Georgia that makes him stand out. He is aggressive in press-man scenarios and has done well when facing some of the top college receivers in the NCAA. That said, his testing numbers make him a risky pro prospect, as few cornerbacks can survive on the outside with athleticism as bad as his.

What would make the most sense is giving him a redshirt year as a rookie and try moving him to the slot. In the slot, Kendrick wouldn’t need to rely on his speed as much and his physicality could be used in a more effective manner. He hasn’t really played there before though, so he would need time to develop there. That said, if the team wants to work on developing a prospect, Kendrick makes some sense.