Steelers Final Mock Offseason: Pittsburgh stays busy with massive moves in 2024

Steelers mock draft round 6: Daequan Hardy, CB, Penn State

One massive hole remains on the defense for Pittsburgh as their slot cornerback position is still empty. Sullivan was re-signed earlier in the offseason, but he would be better off as your depth piece behind a starter. He has a lot of experience in the slot, but he is not someone you want to be your only option there. The Steelers know this, and they get a Penn State product to fill that void.

They take Daequan Hardy with their sixth-round pick. He will battle with Sullivan for the starting spot in training camp. He is an undersized cornerback, but that is not always a terrible thing. Most slot corners lean towards being smaller. He is a fast player that can stick to receivers without too many problems. He could show weakness against someone who overmatches his size from time to time.

One thing that you can point to with Hardy is his production at Penn State. He allowed low quarterback ratings when he was targeted. He can cause turnovers and is not afraid to defend against the run. One thing that Hardy is missing in his arsenal from his time at Penn State is the lack of pass-rush production.

The Steelers expressed interest throughout the pre-draft process thus far. Getting him in the sixth round is a great get. They need to work with him on evolving into a corner that can fly into the backfield against the run and blitz the passer. If they can accomplish that with Hardy, then they might have a great slot corner on their hands.