This is the eighth in a series looking at the Steelers by position heading into their 2024 training camp at Saint Vincent College July 24. Today: Cornerbacks
Players (11): Joey Porter Jr., Donte Jackson, Cameron Sutton, Darius Rush, Cory Trice Jr., Anthony Averett, Beanie Bishop, Grayland Arnold, Josiah Scott, Kalon Barnes, Thomas Graham Jr.
The Steelers allowed a completion percentage of just 60.7 percent in 2023, which was sixth-best in the NFL. But they also gave up an average yards per catch of 12.0 yards, which was third-worst in the NFL.
Feeling a need to improve team speed at the cornerback position, the team sent Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers for cornerback Donte Jackson, giving the team a speed upgrade opposite Joey Porter Jr.
The team also signed Cameron Sutton following his release by Detroit, while also adding veterans such as Anthony Averett, Grayland Arnold and Josiah Scott.
They'll join a group that includes Porter, who is coming off an outstanding rookie season, and enticing second-year players Darius Rush and Cory Trice Jr. as the Steelers look to continue to develop some young talent to mix in with that veteran group.
The key to everything, however, is continued growth by Porter, the 32nd pick in last year's draft.
Porter allowed an outstanding .76 yards per coverage snap and did so despite often following the opposing team's top receiver on a weekly basis.
The Steelers feel Porter's physical style of play will match well with the speedy coverage ability of Jackson, a six-year veteran.
"He does give us a different type of cover guy than Joey," said defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. "Joey's going to be at the line of scrimmage, tall, get his hands on people. Donte's going to have the ability to play off and can really run. So, he gives us a little bit of a nice matchup in terms of coverage and some flexibility because he has played and done some things inside. I like where he fits that way. And so, I think it's good for us."
Sutton was brought back to add depth and give the team another player who can play in the slot or on the outside. But he will serve an 8-game suspension to open the season for violation of the league's personal conduct policy while with the Lions, which led to his release by Detroit.
With Sutton sidelined for the first half of the season, the Steelers could look to veterans Anthony Averett, Grayland Arnold or Josiah Scott in the slot.
Averett, a former starter with the Ravens, has the least experience of that group playing inside, but the former Alabama star has the toughness to do so.
Arnold has appeared in 26 career games, mostly with Houston over the past three seasons, while Scott has appeared in 39 career games, including making four starts, mostly with the Eagles primarily as a slot corner.
The Steelers also will take a look at former West Virginia cornerback Beanie Bishop, signed as an undrafted rookie, in the slot.
Rush and Trice are both long outside cornerbacks the team acquired last season.
Rush was a fifth-round pick of the Colts, who selected three corners in the 2023 draft. He initially was placed on Indianapolis' practice squad, but then signed with the Chiefs. The Steelers then signed him off Kansas City's practice squad and kept him on the active roster the remainder of the season.
Trice, a seventh-round pick in 2023, suffered a knee injury in training camp last season but has progressed well this offseason and will compete for a job on the outside.
First-year player Kalon Barnes was with the Steelers in training camp last season and had a solid showing, earning a spot on the practice squad and a chance to make another run at earning a roster spot.
The Steelers also brought in third-year veteran Thomas Graham, who has appeared in 11 career games, including making a start for the Bears in 2021. He appeared in seven games with the Browns in 2022.
