Training camp is just around the corner for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and this will be the first time we get collective eyes on the rookie class in an actual NFL setting. Fans are foaming at the mouth to see Derrick Harmon blow up a play, Kaleb Johnson bust a long run, and Will Howard ascend into the quarterback everyone is hyping him up to be.
However, for the last pick of the Steelers draft, training camp seems like long uphill climb.
Donte Kent was a mild surprise when the Steelers selected him in the seventh round of the draft. He was a feisty, feast or famine cornerback in college with some positive traits as a return man. That said, most viewed him as an undrafted target.
It made some sense at the time for the Steelers. Their only slot cornerback was Beanie Bishop, an undrafted rookie last year, and potentially veteran Brandon Echols, who mostly played on the outside.
Kent’s best path to the roster was to prove his worth in the slot. Now, given the Steelers' continuation of big moves, Kent finds himself on the outside looking in for a roster spot.
The Pittsburgh Steelers already replaced Donte Kent
In case you missed it (and I’m not sure you could), the Steelers acquired star cornerback Jalen Ramsey via a trade. While we aren’t yet sure how the secondary will work, one thing is clear: Ramsey will be on the field at all times.
One of the easiest questions to answer is who plays in the slot. While never his primary role, Ramsey has a lot of experience there. The expectation is that whenever there is a need for a slot defender, Ramsey fills that role.
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Assuming they keep six cornerbacks, which seems likely right now, that leaves almost no room for Kent to make the team. Your top three cornerbacks are obvious. Echols and Cory Trice seem like safe bets, and that leaves just one spot potentially open.
While a backup slot defender will be wanted, it would be surprising to see Bishop lose that role. He showed enough promise as a rookie to want to keep him around for at least another season. Unless he implodes, his roster spot feels safe.
Perhaps Kent’s best chance is if the team wants to keep Echols as the backup slot cornerback and cut Bishop. I find that unlikely, but even then, Kent would need to beat out stalwart special teams ace James Pierre to make the team. He seems like the eighth-best option right now and a long shot to make the roster.
Perhaps his only chance to make the team is if he can prove to be a potent returner. While he has some skills there, he wasn’t that player in college. Given the return lines are relatively deep and the Steelers shy away from defenders returning kicks, I can’t say I like those odds.
Omar Khan has yet to cut a rookie draft pick, and the only pick he made not currently on the roster was due to a career-ending injury. That said, it feels like Kent will struggle to make this team given the depth in front of him.