With the 2023 NFL Draft rapidly approaching, the Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up to have one on one meetings with some young prospects. The cornerback position has been discussed by fans and media alike quite often in recent months. The meeting with Penn State star Joey Porter Jr. has come and gone, but what about the other corners that the Steelers are meeting with?
Tony Walsh / DawgNation.com
Cornerback, Kelee Ringo (#5) at the University of Georgia.
Other intriguing options at cornerback for the Steelers
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. is on the move already, meeting with a variety of NFL franchises to start draft month. Forbes Jr. stands at 6’1" and weighs in at 166 pounds. He has scheduled meetings with a multitude of NFL teams, including Pittsburgh's inner division rival, the Cincinnati Bengals. Forbes Jr. has a smaller frame but excels at something both Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin love, generating turnovers.
Forbes led Mississippi State in interceptions with six in the 2022 season. Three of those interceptions went back for points. Even though he is small for his position, an NFL diet and weight room could lead Forbes Jr. to be the best corner in the class. His nose for the ball and quick hands are something that can’t be taught and might be enough for him to wear black and gold.
Kelee Ringo is also scheduled to meet with Pittsburgh before the draft. The athletic corner from the University of Georgia had a lights out performance at the combine. The old high school sprinting champ ran a blazing 4.36 in Indianapolis while measuring in at 6’2” and 207 pounds. With great size and speed, Ringo is blessed with quickness and toughness that are two qualities hard to find in cornerbacks today.
BUTCH DILL - THE AP
Tyrique Stevenson before the Senior Bowl
As someone who fights through blocks and is hard-hitting in the run game, Ringo is a unicorn that has been mocked to be selected by the Steelers and could add an instant athletic upgrade to an already ball-hawking secondary. Ringo, however, is young. At only 20 years old, some scouts view Ringo as a “project” that would need a few years to develop and maximize his talents.
Luckily with the addition of Patrick Peterson, the Steelers might be in the market to take on this “project” and trust the veterans and coaches in the organization to lead Ringo to stardom.
Tyrique Stevenson is a player that Pittsburgh has already met with this year in Indianapolis during the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. The Miami native, who attended Miami University, measures 6’0” and 198 pounds. He is intriguing in a press-man scheme and has strong hands. Stevenson was a Third Team All-Conference player who led Miami in pass breakups in 2022.
Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter JSKO_PHOTO)
Stevenson, who could most likely jump a current player on the depth chart like Ahkello Witherspoon, has long arms and a keen ability to target the hands of receivers in coverage. Stevenson has been exposed in a few instances in a zone style and may become a scheme-dependent, man corner, but the footwork and size are enough that might lead to a team taking a chance on him.
What do you think the Steelers will do in the draft? When will we see the Steelers add another corner to the roster? Let us know on Twitter or in the comments below.
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