The Pittsburgh Steelers enter the 2024 NFL Draft with several glaring holes to address. Most of them – center, tackle, and wide receiver – fall on the offensive side of the ball. Their one major need on defense is cornerback. Joey Porter Jr. has one cornerback spot locked down, but Pittsburgh doesn’t have much talent at the position behind him. While they are most likely to address offensive line in the first round, Pittsburgh could elect to take a cornerback with their first pick. If they decide to wait, here are some cornerbacks the Steelers could target in the second round of the draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers Second Round Draft Targets: Cornerback
Max Melton – Rutgers
The Steelers hosted Max Melton for a pre-draft visit on Monday, so they have shown interest in the promising prospect. Melton is a versatile cornerback who put together a productive career at Rutgers. He also had a strong showing at the Senior Bowl. While he can play outside or in the slot, Melton is probably best suited to start out as a slot corner in the NFL. That is likely a reason for the Steelers interest; they don’t have a true slot cornerback on the roster.
Melton possesses the physicality to be a successful slot cornerback. He is a little undersized, which could keep him from consistently lining up on the outside. But with his versatility and experience, Melton will be able to play outside if needed. He is a great tackler and solid in run support, another reason teams are likely to draft him primarily to play in the slot. Pittsburgh hasn’t had a good slot cornerback since they lost Mike Hilton to the Cincinnati Bengals. Melton shouldn’t be compared to Hilton yet, but his similar style of play has put him on the Steelers radar ahead of the draft.
Ennis Rakestraw Jr. – Missouri
A redshirt junior out of Missouri, Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is another versatile cornerback who has met with the Steelers. While Melton can play inside or outside but is probably better suited in the slot, Rakestraw is equally strong in either alignment. This versatility is likely a main reason for Pittsburgh’s interest. This year, they are mostly in need of a slot cornerback. Looking to the future, they need an outside cornerback to play opposite of Porter. Rakestraw could fill the short-term need in the slot, while still getting some snaps outside, then move to the boundary long-term.
In coverage, Rakestraw is stronger than Melton. He may not be quite as useful in run support, but he will still find success in that area, too. Rakestraw is very physical, sometimes too physical; he committed too many penalties in college. With good coaching, Pittsburgh should be able to get that out of his system. He wasn’t much of a ballhawk at the collegiate level but his physicality, versatility, and decent athleticism make him a second-round option for the Steelers to draft.
Mike Sainristil – Michigan
Unlike the previous two players, versatility isn’t a major selling point for Mike Sainristil. He is a slot cornerback only. That may move Sainristil down some teams’ draft boards, but it really shouldn’t. With the NFL continuing to become more of a passing league, nickel cornerback has basically become a full-time position. A good cornerback in the slot is much more valuable than it was just a decade ago. And when it comes slot-exclusive corners, there aren’t many cornerbacks in this draft class stronger than Sainristil.
The wide receiver-turned-cornerback is a pretty smart player with good route recognition, no surprise given his history as a wide receiver. He is a strong blitzer out of the slot and strong in run support despite being undersized at 5’9″, 182 pounds. Sainristil showcased strong ball-hawking abilities in 2023 with six interceptions, again not surprising coming from a wide receiver background. As he racks up more experience at cornerback, Sainristil will become more refined in coverage. For now, his ball skills, instincts, and toughness serve as strong building blocks toward a productive future as a nickel cornerback.
Main Photo Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
