True or False: Since Super Bowl XLV, cornerback has always been a need for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL Draft.
The correct answer is “False.” But it is true that since Aaron Rodgers hung 304 yards, threw for 3 touchdowns and walked away with a 111.5 passer rating against the Steelers’ secondary in Super Bowl XLV, cornerback has been a major draft need for Pittsburgh more often than not.
The draft is coming to Pittsburgh, literally in less than a week so the question is, how big of a need is cornerback for the Steelers in the 2026 NFL Draft?
This is the latest article in our Steelers 2026 Draft series.
Asante Samuel Jr., Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey celebrate after beating the Lions. Photo Credit: Ryan Sun, AP via the Times-Observer
The Steelers Cornerback Depth Chart Entering the 2026 NFL Draft – The Starters
“Bloodlines are important to Mike Tomlin,” Steel City Insider’s Jim Wexell loved to remind readers during the latter part of the Tomlin era. Tomlin’s love for bloodlines got the Steelers in trouble with picks like Terrell Edmunds and Devin Bush Jr., but the opposite happened with Joey Porter Jr..
Joey Porter Jr. is of course the son of Steelers legendary linebacker Joey Porter Sr. and the Steelers drafted him in the 2nd round of the 2023 NFL draft, making him the 2nd pick of the Khan-Weidl regime.
Joey Porter Jr. gets his first interception. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review
Joey Porter Jr. won the starting job immediately, and began making a name for himself almost instantly when Lamar Jackson tried to pick on him only to have Porter intercept him in the end zone, negating a Baltimore score and paving the way for a Steelers upset.
Since then Porter Jr. has grown into his role. In his second year Porter began regularly shadowing opponents’ top receivers and you didn’t hear Porter’s name much – which is often a good thing to say about a cornerback.
In his third year Porter managed to reduce his pass interference penalties, and he won All Pro honors while allowing just a 56.2 passer rating in coverage, deflecting 11 passes, and giving up completions less than 50% of the time when targeted per Jacob Infante of PFSN.
Omar Khan has already confirmed that the Steelers would like to extend Joey Porter Jr. this summer.
When the Steelers ended the season with James Pierre starting at cornerback, they opted to let him walk and sign Jamel Dean in free agency, considered by many to be the best available corner in the market.
Jamel Dean is a 7-year veteran with 77 starts to his name. Per Pro Football reference, like Porter Jr. Dean only allowed 49% of pass thrown his way to be completed, and gave up a 63.1 passer rating. For comparison’s sake, Darius Slay, the Steelers 2025 opening day starter opposite Porter Jr., gave up 108.0 passer rating.
The Steelers Cornerback Depth Chart Entering the 2026 NFL Draft – The Backups
Leading up the depth chart behind the starters is Brandin Echols, a 5-year veteran whom the Steelers signed from the New York Jets last spring. Echols has spent most of his career as a backup, with only 7 starts since his rookie year, but he played exceptionally well as the Steelers number 3 corner last season.
Brandin Echols knocks a touchdown pass away from Zay Flowers. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review
The Steelers also re-signed Asante Samuel Jr. who was a midseason pickup after recovering from spinal fusion surgery following an injury suffered in the 2024 season. Samuel played 58% of the defensive snaps once he was activated, and his interception in the win over the Dolphins snuffed out what looked to be a promising drive for Miami.
The Steelers also have oft-injured Cory Trice on their roster as well as Donte Kent, their 7th round draft pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, who lost his rookie season to injury.
Steelers 2026 Draft Needs at Cornerback
Not mentioned above is Jalen Ramsey, who the Steelers officially list as a cornerback after moving to free safety in middle of the season. Ramsey will likely continue in a safety-like roving defensive back role, but he does give the team additional flexibility.
This is not something that draft experts are used to saying, but this spring the Steelers have strong starters and solid backups at cornerback.
- But, you can never have enough good cornerbacks.
Those who remember the days of Artie Burns, Antwon Blake and Coty Sensabaugh’s starting tenures know this reality all too well. Pittsburgh enters the draft with strong starting cornerbacks but lingering concerns about depth and durability, so the Steelers’ need at cornerback in the 2026 NFL Draft is Moderate.
