The preseason is officially over, and teams are preparing to trim their rosters down to the league-mandated 53-man limit before Week 1 kicks off. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, an offseason full of moves has completely reshaped the cornerback room through a mix of free agent signings and trades.
For years, Pittsburgh’s secondary has been a weak spot, often overlooked in terms of both depth and top-level talent. Season after season, that lack has come back to haunt them. But this year feels different.
The current cornerback group is loaded with talent, and that depth brings some tough decisions. How many cornerbacks will the Steelers carry into the regular season? Who will make the cut, and who will be left on the outside looking in?
Pittsburgh Steelers likely to carry six cornerbacks on final roster
In free agency, the Pittsburgh Steelers made big moves by signing Darius Slay and Brandin Echols, then followed that up with a blockbuster trade for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith. With Joey Porter Jr. already on the roster, the Steelers now have three starting-caliber cornerbacks, giving the defense tremendous flexibility on the back end.
Brandin Echols has turned heads with a very impressive training camp and preseason, making him a clear lock for the 53-man roster. That gives Pittsburgh four cornerbacks who are essentially guaranteed spots.
Now is where the difficult decisions begin.
Cory Trice Jr. is a player with real potential, but staying healthy has been a major issue. He’s currently working his way back from a hamstring injury, but his history of injuries is a major red flag. After missing his entire rookie season with a torn ACL, then missing time last year, and now being sidelined again for most of training camp, his spot on the roster is far from secure.
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That brings us to Beanie Bishop and James Pierre, two players who bring value as depth pieces. Bishop flashed at times last season, but the coaching staff ultimately leaned on Cameron Sutton over him for the majority of the year. Pierre’s primary value comes on special teams, but the question is whether that alone will be enough to justify a roster spot, especially when there are other players who can contribute in that phase as well.
I believe the Steelers will keep six cornerbacks. With two aging veterans and a solid group of depth players, cutting down will not be easy. Ramsey, Slay, Porter, and Echols are locks. I expect Trice to be given one more opportunity to prove himself, and Bishop brings added value as a versatile option who can fill in at slot corner when needed.
The team should carry six corners regardless, especially with Ramsey’s ability to play safety. In that scenario, having extra cornerback depth is a luxury the Steelers would be wise to hold onto.