Latest On Steelers QB Situation

The Steelers entered the offseason with some expectation of shaking up their quarterbacks room. However, Steelers general manager Omar Khan admitted this week that he never would have imagined the team adding both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.

“I’m excited about both of those players,” Khan said earlier this week (via Dale Lolley of the team’s website). “They’re both really good quarterbacks. If you would have told me a month ago in Indy that we’d be here and Russell Wilson and Justin Fields would be our quarterbacks, I’d say, I’d be a little bit surprised.”

When the season ended with yet another one-and-done playoff appearance, Khan gave Kenny Pickett a vote of confidence. At the same time, the GM acknowledged that the Steelers would likely add some competition at the position. That mentality didn’t last too long, as both Russell (via free agency) and Fields (via trade) were acquired thanks to massive discounts. The Steelers were also able to find a trade partner for Pickett in the Eagles, allowing them to completely reset their QB depth chart. Despite the sudden pivot, Khan made it clear that it had nothing to do with Pickett’s ability.

“Nothing has changed. I still have a lot of faith in Kenny Pickett,” Khan said. “Kenny’s a good football player, a good quarterback. I think he’s got a big future in the NFL. Things just kind of evolved. I couldn’t really have foreseen that things would go the way they did.”

Now, the Steelers will shift their focus to their two new signal callers. Mike Tomlin made it clear this week that Wilson is in “pole position” to be Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback, although Fields will eventually have the “opportunity to compete” when the time comes. Tomlin noted the advantage of having clarity at the position, which is why he’s been straightforward when discussing his team’s QB plan.

“We’ve been very transparent about the pecking order, at least to start,” Tomlin said earlier this week (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “I just think that provides clarity for all parties involved. Russell is a veteran, man. He’s got a proven process of readiness. He’s been in this league a long time. He’s capable of rallying troops, receivers, tight ends, running backs, et cetera. He’s just got a lot of experience in terms of what it takes to be the guy over the course of a 12-month calendar and I just think that that’s something that a younger guy like Justin could learn from.”

While the Steelers were clearly active in the QB market, the team didn’t pursue the biggest available name. Tomlin told reporters (including Pryor) that the Steelers didn’t make a run at Kirk Cousins, who ended up getting $180MM from the Falcons.

Steelers free agency grade roundup: How did Omar Khan do in 2024?


Patrick Queen #6 of the Baltimore Ravens defends in coverage during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on December 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California.
Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images

Omar Khan gets everything from an A to a C.

With the main portion of free agency in the rearview mirror, NFL analysts across the mediasphere have taken part in the time-honored tradition of grading free agent classes. Of course, the true “winners” and “losers” of free agency will not become apparent until each team’s signees actually step foot on the field, but it’s still worth taking a look at how Steelers GM Omar Khan’s second offseason haul of free agents is perceived across the internet.

The grades below are meant to encompass all the Steelers’ offseason moves up to the point of each article’s publication, even if the individual blurbs may only mention one to two players. The dates of each reference article is included, as not every publication has factored the Steelers’ latest moves into their grades.

Brad Spielberger of PFF (3/14)

We called our shot here on Queen becoming the next Tremaine Edmunds type signing, a fourth-year breakout of sorts — carrying over a strong second half of 2022 — who earned Pro Bowl honors as a former first-rounder. However, Pittsburgh was able to anchor this deal to the other upper mid-tier linebacker deals signed this offseason instead of closer to the true top of the market. Queen is a great fit alongside Elandon Roberts, though coverage will be a bit of a concern over the middle, with two disruptive forces coming downhill. And it’s a great value.

Grade: B+

Dallas Robinson of Pro Football Network (3/15)

Wilson, on a league-minimum salary, is good value, but will he move the needle for the Steelers? The same goes for Queen, who signed for less than expected but has rarely been productive unless playing alongside All-Pro LB Roquan Smith.

Jackson is a good cornerback, but he was a release candidate. Giving up Johnson and a pick swap for a marginal CB upgrade was a mistake.

Grade: C

Garrett Podell of CBS Sports (3/17)

The Steelers are going all-in this offseason. They completely re-built their quarterback room and will spend just $4.5 million in the process. Pittsburgh will go forward with Russell Wilson as its QB1 after trading Pickett. The Steelers got valuable insurance behind Wilson in Fields, who was had for a 2025 sixth-round pick that will turn into a fourth-rounder if Fields plays 51% of the team’s snaps this season,.

Pittsburgh solidified the middle of their defense by signing Queen, a Pro Bowler during his final season in Baltimore. The Steelers’ next move might be at receiver; they’re slated to meet with Mike Williams this week.

Grade: A

Nate Davis of USA Today (3/20)

For the price of $1.2 million (Russell Wilson) and a conditional sixth-rounder next year (Fields), they’ve vastly upgraded their quarterback room, which says goodbye to Mason Rudolph, Mitch Trubisky and former first-rounder Kenny Pickett. TBD how it all shakes out, but the Wilson-Fields combo should give this a team a better opportunity to win in January beyond its nine or 10 regular-season victories.

The big money went to Queen (3 years, $41 million), who will attempt to solve a long-running inside linebacker issue but must prove he can be Batman and not just the Robin he was next to Roquan Smith in Baltimore. Also feels like there’s more to be done at receiver than the pickup of Van Jefferson after trading Diontae Johnson to Carolina for Donte Jackson.

Grade: B+

Dan Pizzuta of The 33rd Team (3/25)

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback room will be turned over to Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Those are two low-cost fliers to improve the quarterback play from the Kenny Pickett era.

One of them could emerge to impress in Arthur Smith’s offense, but it’s also possible neither is a difference-maker.

The biggest financial commitment was to LB Patrick Queen for three years and $13.8 million guaranteed. Queen improved in his final season with the Ravens, but it remains to be seen if he’ll keep that up without Roquan Smith next to him. (…) Pittsburgh still needs help along the offensive line to aid a unit that was about average in pass block win rate last season, especially with Wilson and/or Fields playing behind them.

Wide receiver is a need after Johnson was traded. Signing Van Jefferson is not enough to run out along with George Pickens and Calvin Austin.

The Steelers could also use another cornerback with Levi Wallace unsigned and Darius Rush penciled in to play the slot.

Grade: C

NFL draft profile 2024: Malachi Corley (Wide receiver, Western Kentucky)


Western Kentucky Hilltoppers wide receiver Malachi Corley (11) advances the ball during the college football game between the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the Indiana Hoosiers on September 17, 2022, at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana.
Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Could “the YAC king” be headed to the Steelers in 2024?

Approaching the 2024 NFL Draft, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on anywhere from Rounds 1 through 7. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, their strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital and their fit with the Steelers.

Malachi Corley is one of the most intriguing prospects in this year’s draft class, and the Steelers have shown interest. Could Corley be donning the black and gold this season?

The basics on Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley

  • Position: Wide receiver
  • Class: Senior (Western Kentucky)
  • Size: 5’11, 215 pounds
  • Age: 22
  • Projected draft round: Round 3

Offensive stats via Sports Reference


Malachi Corley scouting report

The comparison you’ll be hearing all draft season for Malachi Corley is Deebo Samuel. And although it feels lazy to compare Day 2 draft targets to some of the NFL’s top offensive weapons, in this case it’s fairly accurate.

With a running back build at 5’11, 215 pounds, Corley is a thickly-built receiver and gadget weapon. He received a lot of his touches on screens, with Western Kentucky taking advantage of Corley’s 4.46 speed and bowling ball physique to inflict YAC terror on opposing defenses (No. 11 in all clips).

WKU ran a very screen-heavy offense, meaning that when Corley wasn’t receiving, he was oftentimes blocking. He’s a willing, effective blocker who uses his size to clear a path through the secondary, with great power in his initial punch. In the play below, he’s almost a little too eager to initiate contact with the defender, but it’s a good problem to have.

Corley’s hands were a mixed bag on tape. In some instances, he’d grab the ball in stride, immediately turn his head, and find a lane, showing off his ability to quickly process the defense. Other times, there were concentration drops on easy balls. And at 5’11, Corley has a smaller catch radius and struggles with contested catches. At this point in his career, Corley is much more of a perimeter running back than a polished threat at wide receiver.

However, while Corley struggles with jump balls, he has no problems catching over-the-shoulder passes when they hit him in stride.

As a route runner, Corley is similarly a work in progress. He has a quick first step off the line, but he doesn’t create much separation on his routes. He lacks elite acceleration and doesn’t vary his speed much or cut quickly.

On the play below, he struggles to break away from the defender and can’t haul in the pass.

Against zone, Corley is better, with a good feel for finding open spots in the defense.

Corley is at his most dangerous on short screens. He has fantastic open field vision, contact balance, and power, rarely going down on first contact against defensive backs.

As a result, WKU often used Corley as a gadget player, with the receiver getting occasional reps as a running back and constantly receiving touches at or behind the line of scrimmage. He isn’t the fastest receiver in the class, but at full tilt he can easily blow by linemen and linebackers, while still having the compact build to hold up in that area of the field.

However, separation remains the name of the game for most NFL receivers, which is where Corley remains incredibly raw. He’s unlikely to be an immediate starter, but he has the unique build and athleticism to be an exciting gadget player at the next level who, with the right coaching, could develop into a Deebo Samuel-level weapon.

Strengths

  • Running back build, runs through defensive backs
  • Excellent at following blocks in open field
  • Good speed for size (215 pounds)
  • Great blocker

Weaknesses

  • Not a sudden route runner
  • Inconsistent hands, poor catch radius
  • Incredibly raw, limited route tree
  • Didn’t play much against top-notch competition

What others are saying about Malachi Corley

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com

Corley is a big, physical wideout who has been asked to carry a heavy workload for Western Kentucky using his talent after the catch. Corley’s highlight reel will be full of broken tackles and general carnage left in his wake. He’s an average route-runner with the tools to improve, but a disappointing drop rate and contested-catch rate are concerns relative to the way he plays the game in space. Like Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel when they were prospects, Corley has had a heavy percentage of his targets schemed around him and he will need to prove he can become more than just a quick-game bully or gadget guy. He’s good at what his team asked him to do, which is a great jump-off point for evaluators considering him as a Day 2 selection and future starter.

Chris Pflum of Big Blue View

Corley’s greatest upside will be in offenses that weaponize spacing and alignment to create traffic on the defense, while also scheming opportunities to get the ball to skill position players in space. Modern “West Coast” offenses could make particularly good use of Corley and he has the potential to be a high-volume and high-upside option for them.

Offenses that ask receivers to beat one-on-one matchups or value more conventional receivers will likely look elsewhere. However, Corley has the potential to be a highly productive and versatile weapon as a slot receiver or slot-back (to use an older term) in the right situation.

Rob Gregson of A to Z Sports

Corley is a bowling ball from the perimeter which creates problems for defenses as they aren’t prepared for his level of physicality and dense frame.

When given manufactured touches you can see how Corley is a Swiss Army knife that can align in the slot or out of the backfield and make plays with the ball in his hands.

Teams will be concerned about how long he can play the way he wants before getting injured, along with his rawness as a true WR. But for organizations that need a spark or influx of dynamic talent, Corley fits the bill.

Malachi Corley’s fit with the Steelers

Corley doesn’t seem like the greatest fit for the Steelers at first glance. The team has plenty of slot/gadget types already, with a gaping hole at WR2. However, at this stage in his career, Corley seems much more suited for the former than the latter due to his inability to separate and incomplete skillset.

However, the Steelers have shown a lot of pre-draft interest in Corley. While he might not be a great fit on the outside, at least initially, his blocking prowess and tough-nosed style of play is a philosophical fit for the Arthur Smith offense. If schemed correctly, Corley could be something special at the NFL level. If he’s available at one of the Steelers’ two third-round picks in the upcoming draft, he’d be worth a look.

TL;DR: Corley is a raw wide receiver prospect who’s built like a running back. A tough, hard-to-bring-down runner in the short passing game, he’ll have to greatly improve his route tree to take his game to the next level.

What are your thoughts on Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!

Steelers NFL Draft Hub: Mock drafts, player profiles & more for 2024


The pick graphic for the Pittsburgh Steelers on display during Round One of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station in Kansas City, MO.
Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The 2024 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching, set to take place Thursday, April 25 through Saturday, April 27 in Detroit, Michigan, and the team at Behind The Steel Curtain will be here to guide you on all things Pittsburgh Steelers leading up to the action. Following their 10-7 season and eventual first-round playoff exit in the wild card, the Steelers are slated for the No. 20 overall pick, with plenty of needs to address throughout the offseason.

Here, we’ll be keeping track of our collection of Steelers scouting reports, Steelers mock drafts and 2024 NFL mock drafts throughout the offseason. Be sure to bookmark this page to stay up to date on the latest Steelers draft content!

Steelers mock drafts 2024, by analyst

Mike Nicastro

Jarrett Bailey

NFL Draft player profiles, by position

Quarterback

Offensive line

Wide receiver

Running back

Defensive line

Cornerback

Steelers mock draft roundups

A look at who the NFL’s leading draft analysts are projecting the Black & Gold will be selecting in 2024…

Steelers pre-draft visit tracker: All top 30, local visits ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft


Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Amarius Mims (65) against the TCU Horned Frogs during the CFP national championship game at SoFi Stadium. 
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Keeping track of who the Steelers have interest in ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.

With free agency winding down, the NFL’s main focus in the upcoming weeks will be the 2024 NFL Draft beginning on April 25. Ahead of the big day are top 30 visits, where NFL teams are allowed to bring up to 30 players on individual visits to their facilities for a private meeting. In-house visits with local players do not count towards the total.

With only limited slots for visits, looking at a team’s list of top 30 visits is a great way to keep an eye on the prospects they are most interested in. However, teams can also use the visits to feign interest in players or simply to answer medical questions they have about certain prospects.

Regardless, pre-draft visits remain an essential part of the draft season each year. Follow along with this article to receive updates on every reported Steelers pre-draft visit. The latest entries will be at the top of the article.

Total top 30 visits reported: 10/30

Georgia OT Amarius Mims

Reported by Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Oregon State OT Taliese Fuaga

South Carolina WR Xavier Legette

Travis Glover’s visit was reported the day prior.

Mizzou DL Darius Robinson

Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley

Florida WR Ricky Pearsall

Georgia State OT Travis Glover

Northern Iowa DT Khristian Boyd

Florida State DL Braden Fiske

Reported: West Virgina C Zach Frazier

Originally reported by Bleacher Report and The Draft Network’s Ryan Fowler, the Twitter/X post announcing Frazier’s meeting with the Steelers was eventually deleted.

If it happened, the meeting likely didn’t count against the Steelers top-30 total as Frazier is a local player.

Washington RB Dillon Johnson

Steelers NFL Draft 2024: Bailey mock draft 2.0


COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 30 West Virginia at TCU

Jarrett Bailey’s Steelers’ mock draft 2.0

With the first waves of NFL free agency having come and gone, the Steelers still have glaring needs on the offensive side of the ball, which I address in my second Steelers mock draft.

Round 1, Pick 20: OT Amarius Mims, Georgia

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 11 Ole Miss at Georgia
Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The worst kept secret is that if Mims is available at 20, the Steelers are taking him. At the Combine, there were a lot of conversations about how much Pittsburgh likes Mims, as well. This would allow the Steelers to move Broderick Jones to left tackle and start Mims on the right side.

Round 2, Pick 38 (projected trade with Titans): C Zach Frazier, West Virginia

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 01 West Virginia at Pitt
Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Steelers use their extra draft capital acquired from the Kenny Pickett trade to move up and complete their offensive line by taking Frazier. They send the No. 51 and No. 98 picks to the Titans to move up to No. 38 and select their new franchise center to give them a lineup of Broderick Jones, Isaac Seumalo, Frazier, James Daniels, and Amarius Mims.

Round 3, Pick 84: WR Jamari Thrash, Louisville

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JAN 31 Reese’s Senior Bowl
Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Thrash could be the immediate replacement for Diontae Johnson. That’s not to say he’ll immediately be as good, but the potential is there. He is great against man coverage and creating his own space, and his 2.35 yards per route run was higher than the national average. Over his last two seasons at Louisville, he caught 124 balls for 1,971 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Round 4, Pick 119: WR Malik Washington, Virginia

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 18 Duke at Virginia
Photo by Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

I think the Steelers double dip at receiver. It doesn’t look like the Tyler Boyd deal is getting done, and the likes of Van Jefferson, Quez Watkins, and Calvin Austin will compete to be the fourth receiver on the depth chart. Washington was one of the best pure slot receivers in college football in 2023. He caught 111 passes for 1,384 yards and nine touchdowns. He had one of the highest yards per route run in the nation at 3.15, and his 35 missed tackles forced led all of college football. He was also second in the nation in receptions from the slot and he led the country in receiving yards from the slot. A wide receiver room of Thrash as the X, George Pickens as the Y, and Washington in the slot with Jefferson, Austin, and Watkins (or Denzel Mims/Marquez Callaway if one of them beat out Watkins for a roster spot) sounds good to me.

Round 6, Pick 178: CB Kamal Hadden, Tennessee

Texas A&M v Tennessee
Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images

Hadden is one of my favorite sleeper cornerbacks in this class. In a normal year that wasn’t so stacked, he would be a day two pick. He allowed just 12 catches for 96 yards all season and picked off three passes. He allowed a passer rating of seven in 2023. SEVEN. He could come in and start before the middle of the season. I’d say Week 1, but we know how the Steelers handled Joey Porter Jr. last season, so don’t expect them to start a sixth-round rookie from day one. Regardless, this would be a home run in the sixth round.

Round 6, Pick 195: DT Marcus Harris, Auburn

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: FEB 03 Reese’s Senior Bowl
Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Harris was tremendous against the run on the defensive interior, but also wreaked havoc as a pass rusher. He had seven sacks and 16 hurries on the quarterback. Pittsburgh’s defensive line depth is shaky at best, even after the signing of Dean Lowry. It’s very possible Harris could come in and outperform DeMarvin Leal and Isaiahh Loudermilk.

Terrible Towel Tales: Analyst critical of Steelers’ moves at quarterback


Los Angeles Chargers v Denver Broncos
Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

Steelers news and commentary from Wednesday, March 27th

Welcome to the Terrible Towel Tales, where we’ll highlight some of the latest stories permeating Steelers media for your reading pleasure every Monday through Saturday. In today’s news…

Analyst Gives Steelers a C for Free Agent Haul | Chris Ward, Steelers Now

One analyst is not impressed with the Steelers’ free agency haul, however. Dan Pizzuta of the 33rd Team gave the Steelers a C, as he’s lukewarm on the moves they made and thinks there’s still a lot of areas to be addressed.

“The Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback room will be turned over to Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Those are two low-cost fliers to improve the quarterback play from the Kenny Pickett era. One of them could emerge to impress in Arthur Smith’s offense, but it’s also possible neither is a difference-maker,” Pizzuta wrote.

Steelers’ Mike Tomlin Responds to Brandon Aiyuk | Noah Strackbein, All Steelers

Once the noise got loud enough, Aiyuk sent a tweet to Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, letting him know he’s heard the two look alike. At the NFL Meetings, Tomlin was asked about the recent message and, with a slight laugh, responded.

“I’ve heard a lot of that recently, yes,” Tomlin said with a smirk.

A trade for Aiyuk would only add to an already big offseason for the Steelers. To this point, they’ve traded Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles and Johnson to the Panthers, signed Russell Wilson, and acquired Justin Fields through a trade with the Chicago Bears.

Rooney happy with new market, excited about additions | Dale Lolley, Steelers.com

The NFL announced new markets for several teams this week, with the Steelers’ rights being extended to Germany. They also have marketing rights in Mexico and Ireland, giving them access to build brand awareness and fandom beyond the U.S., through fan engagement, events and commercial opportunities.

“We were happy with the announcement that we were awarded Germany as our third global market opportunity so we can have more activities in Germany and look forward to continuing to build our fans,” Rooney said Tuesday as the meetings concluded.

That announcement also opens the opportunity for the Steelers to perhaps host a game in Germany at some point in the future, along with potential games in Mexico and Ireland, as well.

NFL draft profile 2024: Mike Sainristil (Cornerback, Michigan)


CFP National Championship: Michigan Mike Sainristil (0) in action, runs with the football after an interception vs Washington at NRG Stadium. Houston, TX 1/8/2024 
Set Number: X164476 TK1

Could Sainristil be the Steelers’ next Mike Hilton?

Approaching the 2024 NFL Draft, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on anywhere from Rounds 1 through 7. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, their strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital and their fit with the Steelers.

Often drawing comparisons to former Steelers cornerback/current Bengal Mike Hilton, Michigan’s Mike Sainristil is one of the top slot defenders in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Steelers have an underrated need at the position and could definitely be interested in Sainristil on Day 2.

The basics on Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil

  • Position: Cornerback
  • Class: Redshirt senior (Michigan)
  • Size: 5’9, 182 pounds
  • Age: 23
  • Projected draft round: Rounds 2-3

Defensive stats via Sports Reference


Mike Sainristil scouting report

The first thing that pops off the tape with Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil (No. 0 in all clips) is just how physical his game is. The 182-pound slot corner doesn’t just hit, he lays the wood at every opportunity he gets.

At his size, Sainristil unsurprisingly can struggle with bigger, physical receivers in coverage. When an offensive lineman gets his hands on him when blitzing, Sainristil can’t do much. And there were a few instances when the corner got dragged for a yard or two before finally bringing the ball carrier to the ground.

But don’t underestimate tenacity and speed. With a full head of steam, Sainristil was one of the best blitzing corners in college football last season, blowing by blockers and locked onto the ball carrier.

He made plenty of big, open-field tackles as well. He’s a decisive, heat-seeking missile who thrives in run support. He has the demeanor of an NFL nickel corner.

In coverage, Sainristil can display great reactive quickness. He’s a fast accelerator who can drive on the ball in the blink of an eye to make plays.

Sainristil is a converted receiver, having played on offense his first three years at Michigan before switching to the other side of the ball for his final two seasons as a Wolverine. The good is that shows just how excellent of an overall football player Sainristil is, becoming a starter (as well as an All-American) on one of college football’s most complex defenses despite his inexperience. He wasn’t a one-trick pony, either, lining up in the slot, boundary, and even at safety at times for Michigan. However, he still projects as a slot-only cornerback at the NFL level due to his size.

Sainristil’s receiver background also shows up in his ball skills, with the corner recording six interceptions in 2023. He has great hands, puts himself in a good position to make plays, and is a natural as a ball carrier.

However, in coverage he’s still a work in progress in some ways. He has the quickness to excel in man coverage, but has a bad habit of leaving too much separation.

Other nitpicks show up as well. His backpedal is smooth but his hip switch can be a little awkward. He’s still learning to trust his eyes in coverage and could improve getting his head around when the ball is in the air. It’s important to remember: Sainristil a fifth-year senior, but a second-year cornerback. There’s still some development to be done.

Strengths

  • Physical presence near the line of scrimmage
  • Solid athlete, great quickness
  • Receiver background, above-average ball skills

Weaknesses

  • Undersized at 5’9, 182 pounds
  • Still learning the nuances of the position as a converted receiver

What others are saying about Mike Sainristil

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com

Reliable and tough with the athleticism and upside to keep getting better as a nickel corner. Sainristil is a former receiver who plays with surprising field awareness and attention to detail as a zone defender. He has the twitch and footwork to stay connected with routes in man coverage but needs more experience at the position to operate with better recognition and feel for the routes. He showed off top-notch ball skills with six interceptions (two for scores) in 2023 and has no problem stepping up and doing his part as a run defender. Sainristil isn’t there yet but should keep improving and has a chance to become a starting nickel in time.

Maize n Brew

Currently, Sainristil projects to continue playing the nickel at the next level, and he’s likely boxed in there due to his size. While this means he might not be as versatile as other corners in the draft, the nickel is becoming more and more valuable at the next level, and he can be an immediate contributor there in the NFL. Sainristil will likely be selected somewhere near the end of the second round or the start of the third round. Whoever drafts him will be getting a fierce, hard-nosed player whose best years are still ahead of him.

Tyler Forness of Vikings Wire

His motor never stops. Is an ultra aggressive defender who loves to attack the football… Can get manipulated at the stem. Falls often for subtle head and shoulder fakes and allows separation… Sainristil is an aggressive slot cornerback that can thrive there but his size won’t allow him to be successful on the outside consistently. Tackling needs to be improved but some technique coaching can help fix that.

Mike Sainristil’s fit with the Steelers

The Steelers don’t have a strong candidate to be their starting slot cornerback in 2024, making a player like Sainristil a great fit for the black and gold. He’s been projected as a fringe first-rounder by some, but he’ll likely go sometime on Day 2, where the Steelers have three picks. Slot cornerback has a lower positional value than several other starting spots on defense, meaning that Sainristil could last until the third. If so, he’d be a home run pick.

Sainristil would give the Steelers the physical, quick, and long-term presence in the slot the team hasn’t had since Mike Hilton. He even has the disposition of an AFC North defensive back. His skills in coverage are still a bit of a work in progress, but if Sainristil has shown anything, it’s that he’s a quick learner and a football player through and through. With the requisite athleticism to improve on his shortcomings, he’ll be a quality defender at the next level.

TL;DR — A receiver turned All-American cornerback at Michigan, Sainristil is a developing nickel cornerback who makes up for his lack of size by being a heat-seeking missile near the line of scrimmage.

What are your thoughts on Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!

Could the Steelers be open to trading RB Jaylen Warren?


NFL: AFC Wild Card Round-Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills
Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Does the pre-draft visit of RB Dillon Johnson signal another possible trade by Omar Khan?

On March 3 news broke that the Steelers have their first pre-draft visit scheduled and it is with Washington RB Dillon Johnson despite having one of the best RB tandems in the NFL with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. Behind the Steel Curtain’s own Ryland Bickley did a nice profile of Dillon, describing him as a strong runner without breakaway speed or the agility to make defenders miss in space.

That description of Dillon is one that could be applied to both Harris and Warren as well. Why would the Steelers be interested in adding a third running back of the same style? Maybe it is simply to add depth as they move into a more run-heavy offense than they had in the past few years, or maybe it isn’t an addition to the running back roster at all. Could the interest in Johnson be for the purpose of replacing Warren? Sure, they did just add veteran RB Cordarrelle Patterson in free agency, but likely more so to function as a kick returner with the new rules in place rather than to actually run the ball.

With the recent trades of Diontae Johnson and Kenny Pickett, Omar Khan has demonstrated that being productive or a fan favorite isn’t necessarily going to keep you in Pittsburgh. Warren has been both, so why might he be moved out of the Steel City? Khan is known for being very numbers-driven with a keen sense of player value across the league. In trades, he has sold high with Chase Claypool and bought low with Justin Fields.

In the Diontae Johnson trade, he showed a willingness to move on from productivity rather than pay up for a new contract when there is a very deep draft class of inexpensive talent at the position. The supply of WRs lowered the value to the Steelers of Diontae Johnson’s future services, so Khan traded him for a veteran cornerback and a swap of draft picks.

Jaylen Warren’s trade value

In the case of Warren, an unusually low supply of running back draft talent may have resulted in an inquiry or two of his availability via trade leading to the Steelers showing interest in Dillon Johnson. According to Drafttek, over the past six years there has been an average of four running backs taken in the first two rounds, yet this year only one is projected in that range. For Rounds 1-3 that average has been 7.2, but this year, the projection is just four.

While the running back position has lost value due to being able to usually find effective running backs in later rounds, this lack of talent early on in 2024 doesn’t bode well for players sliding toward day three. A team that in other years may have been fine with a mid-to-late-round rookie could be willing to trade that pick for Warren instead. On a rookie contract now and becoming a restricted free agent after this season, Warren is inexpensive and has already answered the question of whether or not he can produce at the NFL level.

Back to the earlier mention of Khan buying low and selling high, Warren may never have more trade value than he does today. His upcoming RFA status essentially has him on a 2-year contract for $4 million. That contract adds a great amount of trade value to Warren’s on-field abilities.

The Houston Texans just traded a seventh-round pick to the Bengals for Joe Mixon, but had to pay Mixon a $13 million signing bonus on his new deal. Last April the Eagles sent a future 4th-round pick and a 30-spot swap of picks in the seventh round to the Lions for D’Andre Swift as Swift was entering the final year of his rookie contract. Compared to Mixon, Warren is cheap. Compared to Swift, his two years of contract control are more valuable. When factoring in the added value of his contract, Warren’s two seasons as a part-timer stack up to Mixon and Swift the two years before they were traded. Per year, Mixon just signed for $9 million and Swift for $8 million while Warren sits at about $2 million.

  • Swift 250 rushes, 1159 yards, 4.6 avg, 10 TDS, 110 receptions, 841 yards, 7.6 avg, 5 TDs
  • Mixon 467 rushes, 1848 yards, 3.96 avg, 16 TDs, 112 catches, 817 yards, 7.5 avg, 5 TDs
  • Warren 226 rushes, 1163 yards, 5.1 avg, 5 TDs, 89 catches, 584 yards, 6.56 avg, 0 TDs

It takes two teams to complete a trade. As we have moved from free agency towards the draft, who could be the Steelers’ dance partner here? The Dallas Cowboys let Tony Pollard move on in free agency and their RB room is currently led by Rico Dowdle who has a total of 96 carries during his four years in the NFL. Similarly, the Las Vegas Raiders let Josh Jacobs leave town and now have a running back room led by Zamir White and his 121 carries over two years. The only less talented group of running backs might be the 2024 draft class. Either of these teams might be willing to use a draft pick to add Warren to the mix.

Performance reasons to move Warren

Despite Warren being cheap and good, the Steelers may want to move on to a Dillon Johnson type because Warren may have reached his peak already. While the rest of the Steeler offense broke out for the unheard-of 400-yard game and a pair of equally rare 30-point games after the firing of Matt Canada, Warren took a step back. I’m not using Canada’s final game in this comparison when Warren had a 74-yard TD as that was a statistical outlier (in 225 other career attempts he’s never had a run longer than 31 yards) and it would make the stat comparison even worse.

  • Warren with Canada: 25 games, 148 rushes, 743 yards, 5.0 avg, 2 fumbles, 0 lost, 59 catches, 432 yards, 7.3 avg.
  • Warren since Canada: 7 games, 69 rushes, 291 yards, 4.2 avg, 3 fumbles, 2 lost, 27 catches, 136 yards, 5.0 avg.

Since Canada, Warren has been getting about 50% more touches and his average has dropped 16% from 5.0 (6.2 if the final Canada game were included) down to 4.2 yards per carry. Even worse is the 32% drop in yards per reception from 7.3 down to 5.0. Meanwhile, fumbles have increased from one every 104 touches to one every 32 touches. Again, all of these drop-offs for Warren took place while the offense was having its best games. It may been that a lighter workload made Warren more effective or possibly the league has seen enough tape of him to know what to expect when he has the ball. Either way, it is undeniable that things trended down in a big way for Warren over the last 7 games.

Trading Warren would create a need at RB2, but with Najee Harris as a durable workhorse at RB1, it’s conceivable that a rookie like Johnson could fill that role. Drafttek has Dillon listed as prospect No. 258 in a draft that only has 257 picks; he should be available late. New OC Arthur Smith turned Derrick Henry into a Hall of Famer after his first three unspectacular years, turned 5th-round pick Tyler Allgeier into a 1,000-yard rusher, and converted 30-year-old WRKR Cordarrelle Patterson into a 600-yard rusher in back-to-back seasons. There is no reason to believe that Smith requires a supremely skilled RB to be an effective part of his offense.

The Steelers’ scheduled pre-draft visit of a running back got little attention coming out of the combine as more focus was on how heavy the Steeler interest was in the wide receiver position (related to the then-upcoming Johnson trade) and how light the interest was in quarterbacks (related to the pursuit of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields which led to the trade of Pickett). This under-the-radar interest in running backs news could be hinting at another Omar Khan trade that nobody sees coming.

Connecting the dots:

  • At least two teams need legitimate RB help.
  • Warren should be very replaceable in Smith’s offense behind Harris.
  • Warren’s current contract situation adds trade value.
  • The Steelers have already scheduled to meet with a possible Warren replacement.

What would it take for you to part with Jaylen Warren? If the Raiders called and offered their 4th (112) for Warren and the Steelers 6th (195), should Khan say yes?

Steelers sign RB Cordarrelle Patterson


Indianapolis Colts v Atlanta Falcons
Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

The shifty playmaker spent the last three seasons in Atlanta with Arthur Smith

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed yet another free agent.

Pittsburgh is signing running back Cordarrelle Patterson to a two-year deal, per Adam Schefter.

According to Ian Rapaport, the deal is for two years and worth $6 million.

Patterson is coming off a year in which his usage went down after the Falcons drafted Bijan Robinson. However, in 2022, he rushed for eight touchdowns with the Falcons, and ran for six in 2021.

The four-time Pro Bowler joins the Steelers on the day that the NFL announced it would be adapting the XFL kickoff, which will see a large growth in kickoff returns. Expect Patterson to be used in that regard, as he has nine career kickoff returns for touchdowns.

In terms of what his role will be in Arthur Smith’s offense, Patterson is a guy that can play both running back and receiver, and we’ve seen firsthand how much of a playmaker he can be under Smith.