Ranking all 10 of the Pittsburgh Steelers undrafted rookie signings

Steelers UDFA #6

A name I really want to like, especially considering the Steelers immediate and long-term needs at cornerback, Chris Steele just doesn’t do a lot for me. He has decent size, decent athleticism, and decent coverage, but he underproduced during his time at USC. He was lauded as a top recruit before coming to the Trojans, but he never became the player many expected him to be.

Where Steele excels is in his man coverage skills. He uses his size and speed to hold his own on the outside against outside receiving threats. Despite never looking like a true speed threat, he tested well enough there. He has decent straight-line speed to match starting receivers. His anticipation and reaction are another story though, as he can regularly be put out of position by good route runners.

While the Steelers do have some needs at cornerback, Steele has long odds to make the final roster. He needs to develop more as a coverage corner and as a run stopper. Given the fact he declared for the draft as a junior though, there is room for growth. A year on the practice squad seems likely, but Steele has the makings of a developmental cornerback.