Talk about a gut punch. The Pittsburgh Steelers just got dealt a rough 27-24 loss to the Browns, and it exposed a secondary that was supposedly deep heading into the season. Now, after that disaster performance by Daylen Everette on Thursday, Pittsburgh is suddenly facing a serious cornerback problem that needs an immediate fix.
From Deep Unit to Desperate Hunt
Seriously, what happened? This Steelers secondary was built up, looked solid, but the wheels came off fast. First, the team traded away Joey Porter Jr., which was a head-scratcher for some. Then, Jamel Dean goes down with an ankle injury, sidelining a key player. Those two hits left a void, and Daylen Everette stepping in against Cleveland was, well, not good. The guy got absolutely torched, and now everyone’s seeing just how thin that “deep” unit actually is. A big-name trade might be cool, but let’s be real, a free agent signing is way more likely to happen if they want to get someone in there fast. The clock is ticking for a team that just gave up five sacks on Aaron Rodgers in that same game.
Who Can Stop The Bleeding?
So, with a sudden, gaping hole at cornerback, the Steelers have got to be scouring the market. A few names are floating out there, and frankly, any of these guys would be an upgrade over what we saw Thursday.
First up, there’s **Kyu Blu Kelly**. This dude’s an NFL journeyman already, and he’s only three years into his career. He bounced around with three teams in 2023 before settling in with the Las Vegas Raiders for 2024 and 2025 under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. He had a solid 2025 season, snagging three interceptions in 13 games. The source says he knows the defense and would definitely be an improvement over Everette’s showing against Cleveland. The big red flag? He suffered a season-ending knee injury last December, which is probably why he’s still available. Gotta weigh that risk, but his 2025 production is intriguing.
Then you’ve got the vets. **Marshon Lattimore** might not have had his best run with the Washington Commanders, but he was largely solid in zone coverage last season. He broke up three passes and allowed less than a yard per coverage snap when the Commanders were in zone, according to Sumer Sports. The big “but” here is his age; he’s 30 years old, which isn’t ancient, but it’s getting up there for a corner.
And don’t forget **Tre’Davious White**. He’s even older than Lattimore at 31, but the same logic applies: these former high-end corners often stay sharp in zone looks because their football IQ is just through the roof. Last year, in 275 coverage snaps, White allowed only 16 receptions as the nearest defender and a paltry 0.64 yards per coverage snap. Plus, he added six pass breakups and an interception. That kind of experience and zone savvy is gold, especially when you’re trying to patch up a secondary that just got lit up.
The Steelers have to make a move, and they have to make it fast. Their season is early, but these kinds of defensive collapses can derail everything before you even get to October.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
Leave a Reply