Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly set to add more starters
The Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t done making significant additions just yet.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have filled nearly all of their open positions this offseason, but as free agency comes to a close and the NFL Draft approaches, they still lack two starters on their roster.
The Steelers are still looking for a center and a slot cornerback as they prepare to complete their 2024 roster. They say they have a center in Nate Herbig, but it doesn’t seem like they’ll leave such an important position to a player who doesn’t fit in there. After moving on from Mason Cole, it appears that Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin want a sure thing, which could mean they look to add one early in the NFL.
So far, they’ve sent offensive line coach Pat Meyer to Oregon’s Pro Day to scout Jackson Powers-Johnson, and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to Duke’s Pro Day to look at Graham Barton. The team met with Georgia’s Sedrick Van Pran at the NFL Combine and plans to bring in West Virginia’s Zach Frazier for a local pre-draft visit.
If one had to guess, they would likely add their starting center in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft.
Then there’s Slot Corner. Ironically, when asked about the center position at the 2024 NFL Meetings, Tomlin described the slot as the other position that, while not ideal, is a “work in progress.”
“You understand, it’s still a work in progress. Obviously, (Nate) Herbig is still on our roster, but we have some work to do there, whether through free agency or the draft. Tomlin told All Steelers, “Obviously, we’ll get something done at that position.” “But you can say the same thing about, you know, some other obvious positions where we might be short on the depth chart from a number standpoint.”
The Steelers have options, as well. Tomlin stated that he is open to the return of Patrick Peterson, who would likely start inside alongside Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson. They’ve also met with several cornerbacks at the NFL Combine and have a pre-draft visit planned with Pitt star M.J. Devonshire, who All Steelers’ Stephen Thompson believes is a good fit for the slot in the NFL.
“He has great speed. He is a ballhawk as well. “I think he’d fit really well as a slot corner,” Thompson said on All Steelers Talk. He’s not particularly big in terms of height or weight, but he does have some nice long arms. He’s an excellent coverage player. I like M.J. I believe M.J. impressed many people with his physical attributes at the Combine and Pro Day. Then you get on the field, and he had a rough start to the season – the first third or so last year – but he’s been a number one corner for the last two seasons and has played really well for the most part in that position.”
If they want to go the free agent route, another Pitt name, Avonte Maddox, is still available, as is Chandon Sullivan, who could re-sign with Pittsburgh.
Expect to see additions to both of these positions before the end of the offseason. Khan has stated numerous times that he intends to put together a winning team this season, and based on the moves he has made thus far, there is no reason to believe they will stop now.
Two more starters are likely to join the Steelers.