As it stands now, the Pittsburgh Steelers only have starting cornerback Donte Jackson for one season. Pittsburgh traded wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for Jackson but there’s been no word of a contract extension.
This means a cornerback could be a top need for the Steelers in the 2025 NFL draft. This is the direction ESPN NFL draft writer Matt Miller went for Pittsburgh with the No. 13 overall pick. Miller went with Notre Dame star cornerback Benjamin Morrison.
Here’s what Miller had to say about the pick:
Cornerback and wide receiver were equally considered here, but the former seemed like the more pressing issue. Pittsburgh has Joey Porter Jr., Donte Jackson and Cameron Sutton there, but both Jackson and Sutton are short-term solutions; the Steelers really need a long-term, high-upside running mate for Porter. Morrison has big-time talent with nine career interceptions over two seasons of starting, and his 13 pass breakups in 2023 tied for eighth in the league.
In terms of how the draft played out, there’s no doubt Morrison is a better pick than any of the receivers still on the board. I say that with one caveat.
Isaiah Bond has a chance to be the big climber among the class this year and if he plays the way I expect him to, he might be the second-best receiver in the country by the time the draft rolls around.
