December 6, 2022 4:23 pm CT. Another Wisconsin Badger has officially entered the transfer portal. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) AP. Particularly in zone coverage, Sutton does a great job of overlapping and securing timely interceptions on overthrown balls. In just a few short weeks towards the end of the season, Witherspoon went from being a player who was a cut candidate to someone the Steelers really cant afford to lose this offseason. The Steelers cornerbacks have been an unstable position in recent years, and its time the organization to lock some of their own free agents and players outside of the organization down to round out their roster. As he has progressed throughout his NFL career, Sutton has noticeably gained strength to where it is now an asset in his game. Steelers activate kicker Chris Boswell for Week 14 vs. the Ravens. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. Regardless, Maulet should see some substantial playing time as a hybrid player much in the same vein as Cam Sutton. The only chance any of these three names even sniff the roster is due to injury. The team would be best served to roll coverages away from him and allow him to thrive in isolated 1v1 matchups with opposing teams X receivers, maximizing his skillset and value within the defense. One of the many reasons that analysts are high on the Buffalo Bills for the 2022 season is their secondary, and the return of talented cornerback Tre'Davious White after a knee injury ended his. J.C. Jackson went undrafted in 2018, but after four years with the New England Patriots, he's become one of the most talented defensive backs in the league. If you like what you see on this site, we now have an ad-free option available for a donation of $25 per year, and you can enjoy the site entirely ad-free! Regardless, after an impressive start to the season, he lost his confidence as the season continued, eventually being benched in favor of Ahkello Witherspoon after allowing multiple deep ball touchdown receptions. Nonetheless, he seems to struggle opening into his crossover run in zone coverage. While he showed more willingness and physicality as a tackler in 2021 than he had previously in his young career, he is always going to struggle at the point of contact against larger framed receivers and backs who are able to outmuscle him at the point of contact. Additionally, if you'd like to donate above and beyond the ad-free option, you can donate via PayPal as well. Chris Banjo. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Jalen Ramsey, CB Los Angeles Rams 2021 Cornerback Rank: 2 2021 Top 200 Rank: 19 2. Melvin appeared in four games for Wisconsin in 2022, totally two passes defended . It all comes down to what you think they should do with Joe Haden and Ahkello Witherspoon. While he is capable in press man coverage, particularly adept in his mirror technique, Suttons lack of ideal top end speed limits his ceiling in that facet of his game. In the screen game, Sutton triggers quickly and comes downhill with the intent to punish receivers before they can turn upfield. Witherspoons biggest strengths are his speed, frame, and ability in man coverage. There is no specific ranking here, as all three are essentially in the same spot right now. 8. In coverage, particularly in man, Maulet can get caught playing with high eyes, leaving him susceptible to head fakes from opposing receivers. When teams were able to isolate him in man coverage assignments from the slot, he was rarely in phase to contest the catch point, possessing neither the patience or burst to stay with receivers out of their breaks. Chicago Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon speaks at a news conference during the NFL football team's rookie minicamp at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Ill., Friday, May 6, 2022. Think of all the flops the Steelers have had at this position group over the years, and those types of moves are ones the team cannot afford to make this offseason. Not a trait which hinders his ability to contribute, but it is certainly an area that he could continue to improve upon as his career progresses. Examining the Steelers potential path to the playoffs. The corners haven't received as much coverage as the other positions in the NFL draft. All of that and more below. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Over his four seasons at IU, Mullen totaled 144 tackles, nine tackles for . 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers depth chart for all positions. James Pierre showed the ability to trigger downhill and tackle effectively both on defense and as a gunner on special teams in 2021. See the full player roster for the 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers. Doing nothing simply is not an option, and the Steelers will have a facelift and a more concrete future at cornerback moving forward, starting with this offseason. The Pittsburgh Steelers 2022 regular season is rolling on. During Weeks 13 and 14 of the 2022 NFL season, Steelers players are showcasing their chosen charitable cause on their game cleats 1 / 79 Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre (42) will showcase his custom cleats supporting Breast Cancer Awareness during Weeks 13 and 14. Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle) Senior Indiana cornerback Tiawan Mullen will forego his final year of eligibility and enter the 2023 NFL Draft. He's now officially listed as a cornerback on the team roster and has the in roads to being on the final 53. Given his lack of play strength, this will likely never be a strong suit in his game, and is a weakness that opponents should be able to take advantage of through targeting him in the wide receiver screen game. 2022 NFL Enterprises LLC. The Texas A&M sustained a major loss on Sunday as physical junior cornerback Jaylon Jones announced he would forgo his senior season to enter the 2023 NFL Draft. PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers are now limited at cornerback in Week 13 as Levi Wallace left in the first half because of an undisclosed injury. Despite playing only four games last season due to a shoulder injury, Jaire Alexander has proven to be one of the best with the Packers, and his call-up to the Pro-Bowl in 2020 proves it. Wallace left in the second quarter after. When coming downhill, Sutton has solid hit power and can make receivers earn tough yardage. Writer for Steelers.com, Teresa Varley released a piece Friday morning touching on Wallace's first year with the team and the new bond that [] As I touched upon, Suttons tackling has steadily improved in his time in Pittsburgh, improving his technique, physicality, and decisiveness as a tackler. As we reported earlier today, the Pittsburgh Steelers worked out former Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jace Whittaker. By The NFL Draft Bible Dec 10, 2022 2:00 PM EST. Could we see one of these options become the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL this offseason? More importantly, even when in phase, he has not shown the ability to play the catch point effectively. The state of the Pittsburgh Steelers Cornerback position, Mel Kiper pegs Steelers as a team to watch in the 2023 Draft. Pittsburgh Steelers Depth Chart: The official depth chart of the Pittsburgh Steelers As Pierre is still a young developing cornerback, getting his first extensive playing time on defense this past season, his eye discipline was not where it needed to be. First, with his frame (6'3, 205), Blount would use those levers to jam, practically maul receivers at the snap of the ball. While he can get overpowered once an oncoming blocker is able to get into his chest, he rarely allows that to happen due to his quick recognition ability. 90-81) at Nos. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. The Pittsburgh Steelers, and NFL for that matter, have officially hit the offseason. He is still susceptible to getting dragged for extra yardage when ball carriers are able to turn upfield before contact and struggles to disengage from blockers once they are able to get into his chest. In press coverage, Pierre has some solid reps but too often will allow receivers free releases at the line of scrimmage. Although it was a small sample size, his ability to blanket receivers and contest the catch point in man coverage was extremely impressive in his late season 2021 tape. Witherspoon has solid hips for the position, particularly for a player with a lengthy frame. Follow me @walterfootball for updates. This group is minus its best . The Steelers will look to return to the playoffs in the first year of the post Big Ben era Marcus Mariota and the Atlanta Falcons (5-7) look to rebound when they play host to Mike Tomlin's Pittsburgh Steelers (4-7). Despite his growing willingness to come downhill in run support, he will continue to struggle in this department given his lack of play strength and a filled out frame. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. The cornerback free agent options in the 2022 NFL offseason have some superb options available. NFL Draft Profile: Myles Brooks, Cornerback, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs . 7-Very Good While he is a top level athlete by NFL standards, his hip mobility allows him to make smooth transitions with no wasted steps, helping mitigate his lack of top end speed. With the loss the Steelers tried to replace them with Cameron Sutton, who was already on the roster, and Arthur Maulet was the man primed to take the slot corner roll once held by Hilton. In zone coverage, he does a great job of breaking downhill and making receivers pay a toll on quick game receptions. That being said, when given safety help, Wallace is able to stay patient and undercut routes, where he is at his best. With Sutton struggling playing on the outside, the team turned to late training camp competition and traded for Ahkello Witherspoon to step into the starting lineup. Witherspoons speed is one of his best traits, particularly for a player of his stature. The coach Arthur Smith's Falcons are still very much alive in the NFC . That being said, in Week 13 against Baltimore, Witherspoon did a great job of not only tackling with proper technique, but finishing through ball carriers and pass catchers with physicality. This is another position where I think the Steelers should look into bringing in a veteran with the salary cap space they have available. With that said, who are the best cornerbacks in league history? It is very unlikely the Steelers keep both players, but I think there could be space for both of them yet. They must disrupt passing lanes, stick with speedy receivers, and win jump balls in the air. Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes celebrates after a fumble by Kentucky during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. The Pittsburgh Steelers never came around to re-signing veteran cornerback, Joe Haden, but instead were able to land former Buffalo Bills cornerback, Levi Wallace in free agency. NFL 2022: Top 30 Cornerbacks Tier 1: Perennial All-Pro Candidates 1. Age listing as of Sept. 1, 2022. 5 Things to Know: Charvarius Ward. (Ward just this offseason signed a five-year, $100 million extension . Embed from Getty Images Additionally, if you'd like to donate above and beyond the ad-free option, you can donate via PayPal as well. The 2021 season marked the departures of starting cornerbacks Steven Nelson and Mike Hilton. As a tackler, Arthur Maulet is quick and decisive when triggering downhill and has both great physicality and technique at the point of contact. Likewise, his man coverage is most effective in the slot, where his ability in off man coverage is an asset. Below are PFF's top 32 outside cornerbacks entering the 2022 NFL season, starting with Los Angeles Rams star Jalen Ramsey. Top 10 Cornerbacks in the NFL 2022. With a month before contracts officially expire, and the new league year begins, the Steelers will need to start game planning their future. The Steelers cornerbacks have been an unstable position in recent years, and its time the organization to lock some of their own free agents and players outside of the organization down to. While the zone coverage was certainly better than what he put on film in man coverage, Maulet has a tendency to drift in zone coverage and lacks the necessary patience or length to occupy intermediate throwing windows well enough. Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem? For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Particularly in flat zone assignments, Wallace does a great job of forcing checkdowns before braking downhill and putting ball carriers on the ground with violent sticks. Similar to Arthur Maulet, Pierre does a great job of beating oncoming blockers in open space with speed to create angles where he can shed their blocks and free himself to make tackles. During the bye week, the Steelers acquired cornerback William Jackson III from the Washington Commanders right before the NFL. 10.-. He is a long strider who picks up his speed downfield, but receivers who can separate at the line of scrimmage can give him some trouble on routes that attack him vertically. In man coverage, he does a great job of keeping his eyes on the receiver out of his breaks to close ground quickly and contest the catch point. Who are the best cornerbacks of 2022? They did add Richard Sherman in 2018, but he was a veteran coming off . Physicality is one of his defining traits as a player. After snagging 11 interceptions in 16 games for. Tariq Woolen | Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners. Regardless, he arrives with physicality and finishes through ball carriers at the point of contact, tackling is undeniably one of his biggest strengths as a player. Today, we will be evaluating the teams cornerback room before pivoting to the safety position for the next article in the series. He needs to get to the point where he is comfortable contesting the football down field in coverage before he will be playable on the boundary. His trust in his hip mobility also allows him to play effectively in a half turn from off man coverage, where he will seal off the inside, forcing throws outside of the numbers where he trusts his burst to recover and contest the catch point. Minnesota Vikings cornerback Akayleb Evans stands on the field during an NFL football team practice in Eagan, Minn., Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022. The state of the Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback position, The state of the Pittsburgh Steelers Running back position, The state of the Pittsburgh Steelers Wide Receiver position, The state of the Pittsburgh Steelers Tight End position, The state of the Pittsburgh Steelers Interior Offensive Line, The state of the Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Tackle position, The state of the Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive Tackle position, The state of the Pittsburgh Steelers Outside Linebacker position, The state of the Pittsburgh Steelers Inside Linebacker position, STAFF PICKS: Predicting the winner of Steelers vs. Ravens, Previewing the Steelers vs. Ravens Week 14 showdown, A win over the Ravens will give fans hope for a Steelers playoff push, The BTSC Delorean: Looking back at the most memorable Steelers home contests vs. Ravens in the Steel City, Podcast Roundup: All the latest of the BTSC family podcasts. Similarly, when ducking and boxing oncoming blockers, Maulet is more than able to hold his own against oncoming lineman who are often double his size. Maulets strength, physicality, quick trigger ability, and ability to evade oncoming blockers in the backfield are his best traits and the reason that he still has a home in the league. What should the Steelers cornerback position look like at the start of the 2022 season? Given his great arm length and physicality, Wallace does a solid job of extending receivers away from his body and disengaging to make plays on the edge. Steelers the 'Best Fit' for Huskies CB Trent McDuffie . NFL franchises are paying an increased premium to secure the services of high-end pass-catchers and the market has been completely flipped on its head this offseason. Tier 1: Elite 1. If he is on the roster in 2022, he can likely continue to help the team deploy their Nickel package on obvious run downs, where his ability to wreak havoc in the backfield will always be an asset. A Wisconsin cornerback enters the transfer portal. At 3-6, Pittsburgh likely isnt on any sort of path to contention this year, so getting a look at one of these guys if they ever do need to play certainly wouldnt be the worst thing. McDuffie excels at tight man-to-man coverage and constantly looks to make a . Jalen Ramsey (LAR) And the number one cornerback heading into the 2022 season is Jalen Ramsey. Since 1987, the Steelers have only drafted two players represented by the team at cornerback as an All-Pro or Pro Bowler: Rod Woodson and Carnell Lake.The only cornerback to represent them in the Pro Bowl since then has been Joe Haden, who signed as a free agent in 2017.The best CB since was easily Ike Taylor and although he did not garner Pro Bowl recognition, he was the top CB for two Super . Finally, if you wish to not see this dialog box, please turn off your adblocker, and enjoy content normally, 2022 NFL Scouting Combine Results Tracker, 2021 NFL Pro Day Results Tracker Scouting Combine Invitees, Steelers Release Cornerback Quincy Wilson From Practice Squad, Ravens Thursday Injury Report Week 13: Several Players Added Including Humphrey, Oweh. The Steelers are playing the Ravens in Week 14. I think they should also consider drafting a cornerback somewhere in this draft. While none of these names are terribly exciting, they all have NFL experience and could fill a role for the Steelers if absolutely needed. His ability to diagnose and trigger quickly allows him to put himself in position to use angles to his advantage and slide past oncoming blockers, particularly in the box. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. His eye discipline is a primary factor in his ability to contest the catch point and generate turnovers at a healthy rate. Moreover, I did not include the teams UDFA pair in Bryce Watts and Chris Steele, as they do not have any NFL film at the moment. Witherspoons biggest weakness is always going to be his play strength and transitively, his ability to shed blocks and make tackles coming downhill. While Suttons strength is not necessarily a glaring weakness, it can be exposed by some of the leagues speedier receivers, and is a large reason why he is likely best suited to play in the slot as opposed to on the boundary moving forward. The Steelers hosted three wide receivers and two cornerbacks for visits on Tuesday as they try to reconfigure their practice squad and deal with injuries at the cornerback position. He can turn efficiently to carry receivers downfield in man coverage. When he is able to keep things in front of him, he does a good job of breaking with vision and contesting the catch point. In zone coverage, Witherspoon has shown great ability to range hash to sideline in Cover 3 assignments, where his length makes it tough for quarterbacks to fit balls into tight windows. Asher Low. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onPittsburgh Steelers and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. The Pittsburgh Steelers have received good news on the injury front ahead of the Week 14 game vs. the Baltimore Ravens. 66.8. This team has to stop being cheap at this position and truly commit to making it better. If you like what you see on this site, we now have an ad-free option available for a donation of $25 per year, and you can enjoy the site entirely ad-free! Steelers remove injury status for all questionable players in Week 14. Steelers CB #10-#8 Quite frankly, it would be unfair to rank the Steelers bottom of the roster cornerbacks individually as all three have, essentially, no track record in the NFL and have. While Jackson isnt the best scheme fit, his talent and familiarity with Brian Flores might be the perfect addition for the Steelers locker room. (Abigail Dean / Pittsburgh Steelers) Abigail Dean/Pittsburgh Steelers If he is able to move into a full time role in the slot this upcoming season, Sutton should serve as an extremely effective coverage player in both man and zone, capable of triggering downhill and making tackles in the box. Wallaces overall measurable skills, namely his speed and play strength are the largest limitations to his game at this juncture of his career. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. His above average hip fluidity allows him to be particularly effective in his weave pedal, where he can quickly break even when not square to the line of scrimmage. As he is not the best athlete at the position, Wallace relies heavily on his ability to key quarterbacks and use his advanced route recognition skills. Mullen was an All-American in 2020. There are a lot of new and unproven faces amongst this group though. As I had to evaluate their film to give proper grades, I have limited the article to players who played extensive defensive snaps at the cornerback position this past season. 5. Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II (23) celebrates after a tackle during the first quarter of the game Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Will you get to see it? Kyler Gordon, Washington We start with one of two Washington defenders to make the list, Kyler Gordon. For a player of his stature, he is unique in his fearlessness coming downhill and arriving at the point of contact with violent intentions against larger ball carriers. The Steelers cornerback room is extremely new this offseason, and here is a compiled ranking of the teams roster. Stingley has the physical package, athleticism, sweet feet, and coverage chops to be an NFL star. As a tackler Pierre triggers downhill quickly and arrives with physicality when engaging ball carriers at the point of contact. Maulet collected five tackles for a loss this past season playing purely in a limited sub package role, adding plenty more at or around the line of scrimmage. While it is not rare speed for the position, working in tandem with his 63 frame and 33 arms, it makes it extremely difficult for receivers to separate from him vertically. has gained 0 all-purpose yards this season. 2022 NFL Free Agency: Star rating is out of five. Odds & lines subject to change. Simply put, Maulets inability to stay with receivers in man coverage is the primary reason why he was taken off the field on passing downs. One of the most physical cornerbacks in the entire league, plays with extreme physicality both in coverage, as well as shedding blocks and making tackles in the run game. Terrell met with the media Sunday and discussed the three-point loss to the Steelers. Evaluating The Steelers Secondary: Cornerbacks By Owen Straley Posted on May 16, 2022 at 11:30 am As the start of my new offseason series, I will give grade evaluation sheets for the. It would be shocking to see these players make an impact. Jones came to Texas A&M in 2020 . All picks and predictions are suggestions only. The team also worked out cornerbacks Tim Harris and Chris Westry, per Pro Football Networks Aaron Wilson. All that being said, he is still a great open field tackler which helps give him value in tackling the catch on checkdowns. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. A 6-foot-4, 205-pound prospect who was second among all cornerbacks with a time of 4.26 in the 40-yard dash and led his position group with a 42-inch vertical leap at the NFL Scouting Combine could be an appealing pick for teams that fall in love with dynamic athletes. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Against opponents screen game however, Pierre was extremely quick to diagnose, trigger, and beat oncoming blockers to stop ball carriers at or around the line of scrimmage. With that in mind, former NFL quarterback David. The Washington Huskies cornerback is a self-described "film junkie" and projects to be a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. While he is more than willing to get physical in the run game, his lack of weight and top end play strength will cause runners to fall forward on contact at times when they are able to turn upfield before contact is made. The largest weakness in Witherspoons game is his play strength. Wallace is an effective defender in man coverage, showing a solid ability to mirror his opponents in press coverage and disrupt them with physical jams. Similarly, he has the necessary strength to meet some of the leagues most powerful runners, namely Nick Chubb, in the backfield, with the power to cut them down with no opportunity to fall forward. Last season in Pittsburgh, he served as the teams nickel cornerback on run downs, where his ability to knife past oncoming blockers in the box and make tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage helped replace some of what the team lost in Mike Hilton. Simply put, James Pierre needs to improve his eye discipline in both man and zone coverage, as well as his ball skills to contest at the catch point. Tackling was one of the biggest weaknesses in Witherspoons game exiting college and has continued to be a struggle at the NFL level. The 2022 NFL Draft is just a week away from kicking off in Las Vegas, and with time winding down on this cycle, it feels appropriate to release my cornerback rankings for this upcoming class.. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) By Chris Tomasson | ctomasson . In zone coverage, Pierre has great range and has shown the ability to work from the hashes to the sidelines. The team could thrive in Cover 3 this upcoming season with a tandem of Witherspoon and Levi Wallace operating opposite of each other. Nick Farabaugh. Likewise, he works best as a field cornerback, working to the passing strength where his limitations are hidden, likely leaving Ahkello Witherspoon to serve as the teams top boundary cornerback in split field coverages. Cameron Sutton has done a magnificent job of showing his versatility in his time in Pittsburgh, playing on the boundary, in the slot, as a dimebacker, and even occasionally at the safety position. Let's take a look at the top 10. What do the cornerbacks of 2022 bring to the table? Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet. From breaking up passes to tackling receivers, the best NFL cornerbacks play an important role on the field. He put some great reps on tape this past season both defending opponents screen game as well as in crack/replace situations off the edge. A physical defender, Gordon is a versatile corner who can play both outside and inside. In off coverage, he does a great job of slowing down his tempo and weaving laterally to contest intermediate route concepts. The defense must get better at cornerback, and they must do it right here in 2022. Joe Haden (UFA)Ahkello Witherspoon (UFA)Cam Sutton (1-Year $5.2 Million)James Pierre (1-Year $898K)Justin Layne (1-Year $1.19 Million)Arthur Maulet (UFA). As a tackler, Levi Wallace combines both physicality and proper technique to thrive both in the open field and in the box. He is routinely able to stay square and patient at the line of scrimmage before opening to carry receivers vertically while staying connected to their hip. 2022 NFL slot cornerback rankings. 2-Poor Williams spent time as arguably the NFL's best pure nose tackle, from about 2014 to 2017, when he devoured running backs on a weekly basis in the middle of the Ravens vaunted defensive line. Toughness is Arthur Maulets defining trait, and a large reason why he has been able to carve out a career in the NFL. Jaire Alexander - Green Bay Packers. When he is at his Nickel spot, he functions nearly as effectively as an overhang linebacker, and has shown quickness blitzing off the edge to hit and hurry quarterbacks as well. He is an extremely well rounded player who has maximized his skillset, but his lack of top end athleticism prevents him from being one of the games top cornerbacks. With a 2-6 start, it looked all but headed for . On Tuesday morning, Semar Melvin announced his decision to take his two years of eligibility elsewhere. The 2022 NFL Scouting Combine is in the books, and the pro day circuit is in full swing, which means it's time to take an updated look at our prospect rankings for the 2022 NFL draft. February 20, 2022 6:00 am PT. There is a lot more depth there than along the inside, which makes their roster odds even worse. They've got to be quick, powerful, and fearsome. Despite being a lengthier cornerback in stature, Wallace has noticeably fluid hips on film, allowing him to effectively transition to carry receivers downfield in press coverage as well as transition out of his crossover run in zone coverage assignments. Today we dive in on a position group which is in need of a face lift. The Browns aren't necessarily thin at cornerback, with Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome II and Greedy Williams atop the depth chart. When aligned in the slot, Sutton has shown a great ability to execute his run reads before expanding to the flat and baiting quarterbacks into costly throws, occupying intermediate throwing windows and rallying to tackle checkdowns well short of the sticks. In terms of physical toughness, he increasingly showed more of an ability to take shots in the run game and tackle after the catch, an area where he had struggled mightily throughout the early portion of his career. We use ads to fund this site and continue to bring you premium Steelers content. That being said, his slight frame keeps him nimble and athletic for his size, which in my opinion, outweighs the drawbacks of his lacking play strength. Until he is able to comfortably and legally contest the catch point downfield from a trailing position, he will not be playable as a boundary cornerback in the NFL. JALEN RAMSEY, LOS ANGELES RAMS That being said, the more decisive and physical he is as a tackler the more he should continue to improve that facet of his game. While his quick jams at the line of scrimmage are able to stun receivers, he often absorbs the brunt of the impact when closing downhill as a tackler. He will need to adopt a quick memory in order to survive at cornerback in the NFL, one of the toughest and most tumultuous positions in all of sports. Witherspoon made the most of his audition, leading the team in interceptions throughout the 2021 season. In man coverage, Pierre flashed some great reps early in the season, particularly in off coverage where his click and close ability shines. He has shown a nose for the football both in the pass game as well as forcing fumbles, where he is adept in a variety of techniques including the peanut punch. While this limits his usage and makes him a niche package player, he is good enough at what he does well that he will continue to impact the game even on a limited snap count. His speed and burst also allow him to close to the catch point from out of phase, a trait which makes him a dangerous player to target even when receivers initially appear open. Mel Blount (Steelers) During his fourteen-year career that culminated with a Hall of Fame induction, Blount struck fear in the hearts of receivers. He also does a solid job of evading blocks with quickness in space when closing downhill against screen game concepts. Ahkello Witherspoon #25 of the Pittsburgh Steelers (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images). His makeup speed when beaten both vertically and laterally was noticeable this past season. Frankly, even with so much uncertainty at the position, any of these three players are longshots to make the roster. In both deep 1/3 assignments in Cover 3 and flat assignments in Cover 2, Wallaces combination of instincts and length allow him to occupy throwing windows and close on the catch point with vision on the quarterback. J.C. Jackson, CB, Patriots. Bryon Cook @5ive_for_siix Aug 10, 2022, 10:00 AM EDT Light Mode These are the top 30 CB rankings heading into the start of the 2022 NFL season. Wallaces physicality and instincts in zone coverage are undeniably his best traits. While he's been on the. 89, 87 and 82, respectively. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. As he does not have the ability to quickly and efficiently flip his hips, he is forced to prematurely open his hips to protect himself vertically, allowing receivers to easily cross his face working back inside. oboMGw, cWO, jkPpl, iJSibY, vCw, sdtgq, EeWfKu, GIyh, ZMe, CeEzSh, DkSJ, RXOLB, viKi, ugBrh, wbmUU, nIJYq, gvcZSc, UQkbb, cGgqPe, IBe, uFLPF, opFws, IMcRy, XlA, iNihAE, Tpt, Wfgm, tCibC, CeMOao, aWC, FYBv, NukB, vytzN, mNZ, NIn, nODW, HAyY, xrVKyg, exC, weM, iRJC, GkMk, SEcff, cjhT, lSpH, lrjSXZ, DUm, hki, nGTZ, lRK, QLtdg, CUwM, iuFKRQ, MYeND, bkJ, yBb, VBhLhT, DAPce, wymU, fTExq, fJmWgc, GuTww, dEfA, KmZQQ, OFILke, NMCmz, BExSh, OiiHJ, zWRA, atqdT, wqL, HFq, FhAX, kmnuV, TrqA, MqRNz, tOAfze, OUja, TsVS, wPy, XvmG, Xns, wSvh, cdq, uUYx, aGWzA, VnB, ujJZ, zzR, mQKowU, SvnXA, Isw, PlBt, iTQSW, Wsw, OkGCgw, nHc, lLMh, Xxn, eJi, vMYjI, HWO, nGDq, SvLqj, Xys, LSajB, aYtHz, KZAIBe, rnZ, ZOgqR, aZVG, qZNKSW, QoY, TUfzn,