The Pittsburgh Steelers have taken some big swings on upside so far in the 2026 NFL Draft, and their pick at 85 is no different. Georgia cornerback Daylen Everette is the newest member of the Steelers secondary, joining a talented corner room headlined by Joey Porter Jr. and Kamel Dean.
Corner was far from the biggest need for the Steelers coming into this draft, but finding a long-term answer for Dean could be a savvy move by general manager Omar Khan.
Pittsburgh Steelers land new project at cornerback in Georgia's Daylen Everette
The Steelers love big, long corners more than just about anyone in the league, and Everette is exactly that. Standing at 6'1" and 196 pounds with nearly 32-inch arms, he will fit right in with Porter Jr. and Dean as physical, press-man corners. He is certainly more raw than you would like for a multi-year starter in the SEC, but the talent is hard to miss.
Everette isn't just big; he is athletic as well. With a 9.89 RAS score, he tested as one of the best athletes in this year's class. He lacks some fluidity as a bigger corner, but he can run with anyone and often recovers from bad reps thanks to that long speed.
The problem, like most corners of his ilk, is the lack of consistency. When he is locked in, he can guard every type of outside receiver thrown at him. There is a clear reliance on his physical gifts, however, and smart receivers can take advantage of his poor awareness.
He is also a true man-to-man corner who struggles in zone coverage. The Steelers play man more than most teams (to varying success), but that could change with new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham being brought in. If it does, getting Everette on the field early could prove extremely difficult.
Still, the Steelers certainly got a player that fits what they have looked for in recent years, and the upside could easily make this pick worthwhile if he hits his ceiling.
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