Steelers draft crush #3: Mike Sainristil
A lot has been said about the Steelers cornerback room entering this offseason. For most fans, cornerback is one of the biggest needs and should be a target in the first round. I am less concerned, especially with how this draft class breaks down and some of the younger names on the roster.
What this team does need is a slot cornerback. The hodge-podge group of variable names hasn’t gotten the job done, and this defense was at its best when you had an established slot cornerback play for this team. While a free agent would make sense for this role, I also have my eyes on Mike Sainristil.
The Michigan cornerback doesn’t have the size that you want in an outside cornerback. He also struggles with man coverage due to his aggressiveness. What he does well is play like his hair is on fire every play, making big hits and defending the run well. He is as close to a Mike Hilton clone as you can get.
If Pittsburgh is serious about upgrading its slot cornerback position, Sainristil is the right choice. He can do a lot for this defense, and it would provide them with a more stable run defender in that role. He has a limited ceiling, but that would still make him a valuable defender for this team.