The Pittsburgh Steelers did something very interesting on April 29th. While Day 3 of the NFL Draft was well underway, the front office signed former Vikings cornerback, Chandon Sullivan.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the non-draft-related news. This was an unexpected move that comes at an unusual time.
Some non-draft news: Former #Vikings DB Chandon Sullivan is signing with the #Steelers, per his agents @KatzBrosSports.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 29, 2023
This move was very unusual due to the timing. With still two picks remaining in the NFL Draft, Omar Khan wasted no time in finding a player who he thought could come in and compete for a role on their defense.
Chandon Sullivan is a nickel cornerback who started 30 games over the past three seasons. Originally a member of the Eagles, Sullivan spent three seasons in Green Bay from 2019 to 2021 before signing with the Vikings as their nickel defensive back in 2022.
Last year, Sullivan failed to record an interception on a whopping 945 defensive snaps. While he did disrupt the passing lane 7 times, he was credited for allowing a passer rating of 102.7 last year.
Where does Chandon Sullivan fit on Steelers defense?
Contract details for Chandon Sullivan have not yet been released, but it's safe to assume that the Pittsburgh Steelers signed him to compete with Arthur Maulet for the nickel role -- one that Sullivan should have the upper hand in securing.
Last year for the Vikings, Sullivan played a whopping 886 snaps from the slot, according to Pro Football Focus. Though he hasn't graded out particularly well since his second NFL season back in 2019, Sullivan is bigger than Maulet (5'11'', 189 lbs.) and is probably a better athlete at this point in his career.
Right now, it looks like Patrick Peterson and Joey Porter Jr. could be starting on the outside with players like Ahkello Witherspoon, Levi Wallace, and Cory Trice as depth options. Prior to this signing, Maulet was the only slot cornerback the Steelers had on their roster. Now Sullivan could take on this role.
Sullivan is still just 26 years old and has a plethora of experience working as a nickel defensive back. The Pittsburgh Steelers desperately lacked depth at this position on their roster. The veteran CB should be able to come in and carve out a role on Teryl Austin's defense from day one.