One selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers that hasn’t received enough attention is Daylen Everette, the talented cornerback from Georgia. Everette was the No. 85 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and he was the first defensive player selected this year by Pittsburgh. That is notable because it gives us some insight as to what type of defensive back Patrick Graham may want moving forward.
Everette has all of the physical tools to be a star in the NFL. But why did a three-year starter from Georgia fall all the way down to the bottom of Round 3? Or did the entire league just miss on him? Let's take a look at what some NFL scouts thought about Everette going into draft weekend:
NFL scouts disagree on Pittsburgh Steelers draft pick Daylen Everette’s pre-draft evaluation
In a recent article by Bob McGinn of the Go Long Substack, he has asked several NFL scouts to rank the top cornerback prospects heading into the 2026 draft. Everette showed up on the list, coming in at No. 10 among the scouts.
There were mixed opinions on the former Bulldog, but for the most part, he was well-liked in the scouting community. Here is what one scout had to say about Everette and his NFL projection:
“He’ll be a starter. I would take him over (D’Angelo) Ponds just because if you’re talking long-term big man wins in football. He’s got size, speed, ball skills. He’s played in big games. He’s used to the pressure of it all. He’ll hold up pretty much in all situations.”
This particular scout isn’t wrong about Everette’s experience. He started 41 games at Georgia and has been a full-time starter over the last three seasons. He even played some as a true freshman when the Georgia Bulldogs won the National Championship against Alabama.
He has size, experience, and ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, so what’s not to like? Despite the physical attributes, one scout believes that he may lack the intangibles to be a starter in the NFL
“He’s a sizeable outside corner. He’s got a lot of traits but may not have the stinger that people are looking for. There’s an edge that’s missing with him.”
This was a common theme for Everette in Athens, as fans were always hoping that he would take that next step as a player after starting every game in his sophomore season. He just never improved much in college, and some scouts wonder if he’s already been “maxed out” by Kirby Smart and the Georgia coaching staff.
The Steelers clearly believe there is more than can be mined out of Everette, and that’s why they used a top-100 selection on him this year. The good news is that he won’t be forced onto the field until he’s ready, as Pittsburgh did a good job of revamping their cornerback room this offseason.
Time will tell if the Steelers found a diamond in the rough in Daylen Everette, but he needs to prove that he can be more than just a toolsy prospect. Keep an eye out for this former SEC star during camp as his development will be fascinating to watch.
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