Steelers mock draft round 3: Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
While many site outside cornerback as the Steelers biggest need, I am more inclined to shore up the slot position first. Assuming Patrick Peterson is retained, he will have a role there on passing downs, but this team needs to find a versatile slot defender like what they had in Mike Hilton a few seasons ago, as his versatility makes the defense better.
Mike Sainristil could be that guy this year. The Michigan cornerback is on the smaller size, and he lacks the coverage skills to play on the outside. What he does is provide a physical presence in the secondary. Sainristil loves to play the run and is an aggressive hitter in space. He is also looking to disrupt the play on every down.
Every snap he is playing like his hair is on fire, and that should endear himself to this team. They relied on middling names in the slot this past offseason, and they should take the opportunity to get someone who can firmly entrench themselves at the position and make this defense better.
There is a clear ceiling with Sainristil as a player. He won’t ever be an elite player, and his best-case scenario is becoming a top slot cornerback in this league akin to Hilton. For a team that is lacking in the physicality department in the secondary, Sainristil could be a breath of fresh air and a welcome addition to this defense.