A Blueprint for Rebuilding the Steelers' Secondary - Part 1
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a problem. A familiar problem, in fact, that has once again reared its ugly head: not tackling, it's the secondary.
Even with a revamped coaching staff that includes one of the brightest defensive minds in football, Patrick Graham, the Steelers' defensive backfield has been every bit as problematic as it has been in recent years. Through four games this season, Graham's unit has deployed zone coverage at an 86.8% rate while playing man coverage on just 9.2% of snaps, according to Sharp Analytics. Only one team has played more zone coverage than Pittsburgh: the Seattle Seahawks at 90.3%, with a man coverage rate of just 4.5%.
So the obvious question becomes: what's the difference between the Seahawks and the Steelers?
Through four games, Seattle ranks first in the NFL in passing yards allowed with 579 and first in passing yards allowed per game at 144.8. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh ranks 11th in both categories, surrendering 901 passing yards and 209.5 passing yards per game. The answer becomes clear when you examine the personnel.
The Seahawks boast one of the league's top cornerbacks in Devon Witherspoon and one of the NFL's premier safeties in Nick Emmanwori. Frankly, their entire secondary is solid from top to bottom. The Steelers' situation is far less encouraging. After trading Joey Porter Jr., their best press-man cornerback, to the Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh's cornerback room now consists of the injury-prone Jamel Dean, an aging but still effective Jalen Ramsey, and rookie Daylen Everette, who is still getting his feet wet at the professional level.
The one truly promising piece is rookie safety Robert Spears-Jennings. A standout throughout the preseason, Spears-Jennings noticeably improved the defense whenever he replaced veteran Rayshawn Jenkins in their Week 4 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Outside of Spears-Jennings and Everette, however, the Steelers' secondary remains glaringly weak and desperately in need of a makeover.
The 2027 NFL Draft
Based on early evaluations, the 2027 cornerback class appears to be strong, although many scouts believe it is somewhat top-heavy.
Unless the Steelers completely bottom out, they likely won't have a realistic shot at Notre Dame's Leonard Moore, a prospect with legitimate All-Pro potential at the next level. A more realistic target could be Clemson's Ashton Hampton. Much like Porter Jr., Hampton is a long, physical cornerback who thrives in man coverage. He plays with the aggressiveness and length that Pittsburgh's secondary currently lacks and would fit the mold of the type of defensive back the Steelers should be targeting.
Another player worth monitoring is Mississippi State's Kelley Jones, who posted the nation's lowest completion percentage allowed in coverage last season at just 28.9%.
Other names that should be on Pittsburgh's radar include Houston's Jalen Mayo, a prospect the Steelers have already scouted this season; Georgia's Ellis Robinson IV, arguably the best combination of ball skills and run support in the class; and Alabama's Zabien Brown, whose stock continues to climb with every performance.
Options In Free Agency
The Steelers could also explore free agency, but history suggests the most sustainable solution is building through the draft.
Pittsburgh has invested heavily in its front seven over the years and has routinely found value along the defensive line. The secondary, however, has too often been patched together with veteran stopgaps rather than long-term building blocks, and that issue remains evident today. Still, if the Steelers decide to dip into free agency, one intriguing option could be Minnesota Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (assuming he isn't extended). Rodgers made headlines last season when he became the first and only player in Pro Football Focus history to earn a perfect 99.9 game grade for his Week 3 performance against the Cincinnati Bengals. Despite standing just 5-foot-10, Rodgers is a physical defender who willingly supports the run and possesses the ball skills Pittsburgh's secondary has been missing. His versatility and playmaking ability could make him an ideal fit in Patrick Graham's defense.
If Graham is going to fully implement the system that has made him one of the league's most respected defhttp://process.Toensive coordinators, he needs more than serviceable defensive backs. He needs young, athletic players capable of matching routes in man coverage, communicating effectively in zone concepts, and creating turnovers, an area where Pittsburgh has been inconsistent for years. Whether those answers come through the draft, free agency, or a combination of both, upgrading the secondary must remain one of the organization's top priorities moving forward.
Ultimately, the Steelers' secondary rebuild should begin at cornerback. Spears-Jennings has already shown enough to suggest he can be part of the organization's long-term plans at safety, while Everette continues to offer considerable developmental upside. What Pittsburgh lacks is a true cornerstone cornerback capable of consistently matching up with opposing No. 1 receivers and providing greater schematic flexibility. Whether that player ultimately proves to be Hampton, Jones, Robinson, Brown, or another prospect who emerges over the next year remains to be seen, but the organization's priority should be clear. With the season still in its early stages, this evaluation process is only beginning and will likely remain a focal point for the foreseeable future.
This is just the beginning of this process. To be continued.
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