Ranking the Room: Who is the top cornerback for the Steelers in 2024?

With July officially here, I will be taking the time to rank the Steelers roster by positional group before training camp gets underway. The ultimate goal will be to create a ranked list of every play on the roster before camp gets started.

The rankings will be a mix of criteria. Mainly, I am looking at what players will put the Steelers in the best position to win this year. While long-term potential is considered, I care less about what a player can provide in 2025 as opposed to what they can do for the team this year. For rookies, their level of pro-readiness will be taken into account as well as their projection on the roster. We are continuing with the cornerbacks, a room with some bright spots but also a lot of unknowns.

Steelers ten cornerbacks ranked

10. Kalon Barnes

This should actually be a really fun and competitive group this summer, as the battle in the slot and for depth along the outside figures to be fierce. Unfortunately, a player like Kalon Barnes doesn’t have a good shot at making the roster. He is outside only and while he has elite speed, it hasn’t translated at the pro level. Unless he can shine on special teams, Barnes seems like one of the last bodies on the entire roster.

9. Anthony Averett

Anthony Averett is in a similar spot as Barnes. While he isn’t the athlete that Barnes is, he has a lot more experience. He was a core depth player and spot starter for some time. The issue is that he has mostly played outside cornerback, and at this stage of his career, I don’t see him cracking the roster without him being able to kick inside.

8. Thomas Graham

From here on out, I think every name in the cornerback room has a clear path to the roster. That includes Thomas Graham, who has had a cup of coffee in the NFL so far with little success. He is primarily a slot cornerback, which is a major need, and he can play on special teams. If he shines in camp he could earn a spot as a slot defender.

7. Beanie Bishop

I am skeptical about putting Beanie Bishop this high, but despite the overall undrafted free agent rookie class being underwhelming, Bishop seems like the gem of this group. He is a physical run defender who thrived inside while in college. Add in some plus ball skills and you might have something there. He needs a strong camp, but he could find his way into a starting role given the need at slot cornerback.

6. Cameron Sutton

On one hand, Cameron Sutton has a clear path to a starting role and has a lot of experience with the Steelers defense. Had that been the only consideration, he would have been the second or third name on this list. However, his offseason arrest and eight-game suspension mean his impact won’t be felt for a while, if at all, as the team could easily part ways with Sutton if other players shine.

5. Josiah Scott

When looking specifically at the cornerback room, Josiah Scott might actually be the early favorite to start in the slot. He has a lot of experience in the slot and played well there in 2022 for the Eagles. While there are some safties not included on this list that can take this spot, Scott is the best plug-and-play slot cornerback and could start there given the Sutton suspension.

4. Cory Trice

Four and three are going to be closely contested, as neither are proven players and both profile as potential gunners on special teams, a needed element for this team. While everyone seems to be high on Cory Trice, he needs to prove a lot in order to move up this ranking. He didn’t make it out of camp healthy last year. He needs to stay healthy and continue his strong play if he wants to secure a roster spot.

3. Darius Rush

Darius Rush and Trice are very similar prospects, as both are built in that oversized model that the Steelers have gravitated toward. Rush did see limited playing time as a rookie, so he gets the initial edge over Trice. Ideally, either he or Trice (or both) look like potential starting outside cornerbacks by the end of training camp.

2. Donte Jackson

Thankfully, the Steelers don’t need Rush or Trice to be ready as their second cornerbacks as Donte Jackson will man that spot this year. He seems underrated considering how many fans think that he can’t start anymore. He still has good speed and plays well in man coverage. For at least this season, if not the next few, Jackson should be a great compliment to this defense.

1. Joey Porter

While he still has a lot to prove, Joey Porter had a rookie season for the ages last year. It was a slow start but once he claimed a starting role, it was lights out. He was sticky in man coverage and statistically, he graded out as one of the best coverage options in the game.

He needs to get better as a tackler and also needs to avoid penalties with his grabby nature. It would also be nice to see some more turnovers, as he has never been a big interception-numbers kind of guy. He is a player on the rise though, as while he isn’t the best cornerback in the game yet, he is well on his way to having his name thrown in the mix.