Early in the 2024 season, Pittsburgh Steelers fans had more than enough reason to be optimistic about the team's cornerback situation. Joey Porter Jr., the team's 32nd overall draft pick in 2023, was coming off an excellent rookie season, while Donte Jackson looked the part as a number two CB with three interceptions in his first five games with Pittsburgh.
On top of this, fans were excited to see 2023 seventh-round pick Cory Trice Jr. have a career game against the Broncos early in the year, while Beanie Bishop Jr. looked like a possible long-term option as the team's nickel cornerback.
But in just one year, everything changed.
The Steelers made substantial investments in the cornerback position during the 2025 offseason, but things didn't go according to plan. Darius Slay and the Steelers agreed to mutually part ways after the long-time CB was a healthy scratch in Week 13. And because of the carousel in the secondary, Jalen Ramsey was forced to jump around to multiple roles until finding a home at safety, making the cornerback position even less stable.
Now, as we start to prepare for the 2026 offseason, the Steelers suddenly have an extremely shaky outlook at one of the league's most undervalued positions.
The Pittsburgh Steelers must find answers at cornerback during the 2026 offseason
Just when we thought the Steelers had found their cornerbacks of the future, everything changed. While he still flashes at times, Joey Porter Jr. has been inconsistent and has struggled with penalties in his first three seasons. The 2023 second-round pick is entering a contract year, and even if Pittsburgh gives him an extension, they have no respectable options outside of Porter for 2026 and beyond.
Asante Samuel Jr. has an expiring contract and will be free to sign with any team during the offseason. Meanwhile, Trice has suffered two season-ending knee injuries in three seasons with the Steelers, and any hope of developing into Pittsburgh's starting CB opposite Porter is now gone.
If the Steelers view Ramsey as a safety moving forward, this means that Joey Porter Jr., Brandin Echols, and Cory Trice Jr. are the only cornerbacks from the team's 2025 roster who are under contract next season. Rookie Donte Kent may also return and will look to compete for a roster spot. Of this group, Porter is the only starting-caliber cornerback the team can build around.
Pittsburgh's utter lack of depth, talent, and security at the position suggests the Steelers could make this cornerback a priority during the 2026 offseason. It's not out of the question that this team could spend multiple draft picks to get younger and more talented at the position, and we can't rule out addressing CB as early as the first round of the draft.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will have pressing needs at positions like quarterback and wide receiver during the 2026 offseason, but we can confidently add cornerback to the list.