Steelers do not hide their interest in top cornerbacks at the 2024 NFL Combine

The NFL Combine is underway, and teams are busy soaking in meetings with players in Indianapolis. After meeting with several of the top linebacker prospects earlier in the week, the Pittsburgh Steelers shifted their focus to defensive backs... and they aren't leaving anyone guessing about their interest in drafting a cornerback high this year.

The Steelers have reportedly had formal meetings with top cornerback prospects that include Iowa's Cooper DeJean, Clemson's Nate Wiggins, Alabama's Terrion Arnold, Missouri's Ennis Rakesaw Jr., and Alabama's Kool-Aid McKinstry.

Pittsburgh's brass also had a formal meeting with Michigan's Mike Sainristil, who could be considered this year's top slot cornerback in the NFL Draft. Interestingly, the team hasn't met with Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell at the NFL Combine, though Mike Tomlin did get to speak with him during Senior Bowl Week in Mobile, Alabama.

Steelers are desperate for cornerback help, and this is a good CB class

Well before the 2023 season concluded, we knew that the Pittsburgh Steelers were going to have a glaring need for a cornerback to pair with Joey Porter Jr., and it appears they could be making this one of their top priorities in the 2024 NFL Draft.

This is an excellent year to look for cornerback talent early, as there could be roughly six cornerbacks who deserve to be drafted in the first round among a talented draft class. Pittsburgh isn't likely to have their pick of the litter. Prospects like Terrion Arnold, Nate Wiggins, Cooper DeJean, and Quinyon Mitchell may be already off the board by the time the Steelers are on the clock with the 20th overall selection.

Formal NFL Combine meetings are a great indication that the Steelers are interested in drafting certain players. But this is only one piece of the puzzle. Based on history, Pro Day visits and meetings with Pittsburgh's brass have been the best indicator of who will be drafted by this team in the first round, and I expect many of these cornerbacks to check this box as well.

Some would argue that cornerback is the biggest position on the team, but it's worth noting that Pittsburgh also has glaring holes at center and offensive tackle as well.

We will continue to track their NFL Combine visits throughout the week, but there may not be another position in which they visit with so many first-round draft prospects as they already have at cornerback. Selecting a CB with the 20th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is very much on their radar this year, and after the Combine, this position could emerge as the clear frontrunner.