With first-round pick Artie Burns turning out to be an absolute bust, the Steelers turned to veteran Coty Sensabaugh.
While Sensabaugh played okay, he’s not the guy you want starting on your defensive unit. This leaves the Steelers with a glaring need at cornerback; let’s check out which cornerback free agents would be a good fit in Pittsburgh.
Ronald Darby | Age 25 | 5-foot-11, 193 pounds
Darby is an excellent cover corner that loves to lay the big hit when given the opportunity. While he’s not a big-time playmaker at cornerback, he is rarely caught out of position. Darby would be an instant upgrade for the Steelers. His 2018 campaign was halted because of the dreaded ACL tear, and since it’s not clear how soon he’ll be ready for 2019, he could come at a discounted rate.
Kareem Jackson | Age 31 | 5-foot-10, 185 pounds
Jackson is up there in age for the position but that didn’t slow him down in 2018. While playing in all sixteen games for the Texans, he racked up impressive numbers, posting enticing stats such as 87 combined tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and 17 passes defended, proving that he can still produce at a high level. Durability has never been a problem for the free agent, either. Seeing that Jackson is aged in cornerback years, it’s possible the Steelers could swipe him off the market at a lower annual rate.
Jason McCourty | Age 32 | 5-foot-11, 195 pounds
A Super Bowl Champion in 2018 with the Patriots, McCourty is another experienced corner on the market. Highly skilled and still capable of starting in the league, he would definitely be a welcome addition for the Steelers’ secondary. With 70 combined tackles, one interception, one forced fumble, and 10 passes defended in 2018, McCourty isn’t going to be a big playmaker but he’ll offer solid ability on the outside. Like Jackson, McCourty’s age could bring him in at a lower rate than usual for the position.
The Steelers will enter the 2019 free agency period with an estimated $20 million in salary cap space. With the lack of a quality starter and poor depth at the cornerback spot, it would be nice to see them acquire one of these players.
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