The Pittsburgh Steelers have several rookies who could be key contributors in 2026. With Broderick Jones still recovering from spinal fusion surgery, first-round pick Max Iheanachor could find himself in a starting role by Week 1, while second-round pick Germie Bernard could carve out a role early in Pittsburgh's 11 personnel.
However, one rookie we might not be paying enough attention to is Daylen Everette.
Everette, a third-round pick out of Georgia, joins a crowded secondary in Pittsburgh that recently added veteran cornerback Jamel Dean and safety Jaquan Brisker to the mix. But even with the Steelers' offseason additions, there's a chance Everette could see a prominent role in Patrick Graham's defense from early in his rookie season.
Last season, as defensive coordinator of the Las Vegas Raiders, Patrick Graham deployed his nickel defense on 363 snaps. Graham was also in dime defense for 82 snaps. This is a total of 445 snaps (roughly 40 percent).
In comparison, the Steelers did not run a single snap in their dime defense in 2025, with Teryl Austin as their defensive coordinator and with Mike Tomlin as their defensive-minded head coach.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could thrust CB Daylen Everette into an early role on defense
It's not guaranteed that Everette is the biggest beneficiary in the secondary with Patrick Graham as DC this season. If Graham views Jalen Ramsey as a slot cornerback instead of a true safety, this means that someone like Jaquan Brisker could see a massive role in the secondary this year.
However, there's certainly an avenue in which Everette could make his presence felt on defense right away.
Joey Porter Jr. and Jamel Dean are expected to be the starting boundary cornerbacks for Pittsburgh. Beyond that, nothing is set in stone. The Steelers have Asante Samuel Jr. returning, as well as Brandin Echols. These veterans could be fighting for snaps in nickel and dime packages. But Graham doesn't have a connection or commitment to these players.
If Graham is itching to go with a big, physical cornerback with tackling ability, he could turn to the third-round rookie. At the 2026 NFL Combine, Everette measured in at 6'1 1/4'' and 196 pounds with nearly 32-inch arms while running a 4.38 40-yard dash.
Interestingly, Everette shares eerie similarities in frame, athletic traits, and play style to Eric Stokes, who had a breakout year at cornerback in 2025 under Graham as his DC in Las Vegas. Stokes' size, speed, and physicality proved to be a great asset to Graham's defense last season.
Though Everette might project best as a boundary CB, the team could use him as a big slot defender, which could greatly increase his workload from what many expected during his rookie season.
Much of Everette's opportunity during the 2026 season will be tied to how much he shows on the practice field this summer. With an impressive showing, the Pittsburgh Steelers could hand the talented rookie an unexpectedly large role in the defensive backfield from the gate.
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