Steelers Predicted to Inject Youth on Defense to Form ‘Elite Duo’

Getty ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. predicted the Pittsburgh Steelers to target Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter to pair with Joey Porter Jr.

The Pittsburgh Steelers added cornerback Joey Porter Jr. with the first pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft. But ESPN’s Mel Kiper argued that shouldn’t stop the Steelers from adding another high-profiled cornerback such as Georgia’s Kamari Lassiter in the first round of the 2024 draft.

In the first addition of his 2024 mock draft, Kiper projected the Steelers to select Lassiter at No. 20 overall.

“Sure, the Steelers hit on cornerback Joey Porter Jr. with the top pick of Round 2 a year ago, but this is a defense that saw 33-year-old corner Patrick Peterson play more than 1,000 snaps, so there’s room for an injection of youth at the position,” Kiper wrote. “Lassiter emerged as a lockdown corner for the Bulldogs in 2023, though he had just one career interception, which came all the way back in 2021.

“Still, he allowed a total of nine receptions for 91 yards as the nearest defender in coverage, and none of those passes went for scores. He could form an elite duo with Porter.”

In addition to 1 interception, Lassiter posted 14 pass defenses, 9.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack in three seasons at Georgia. He had a career-high 8 pass defenses in 14 games as a junior in 2023.

What CB Kamari Lassiter Would Bring to Steelers Defense

Should the Steelers land Lassiter in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, it would be the second year in a row Pittsburgh selects a Georgia player in the first round. The Steelers also selected tight end Darnell Washington in the 2023 third round and wide receiver George Pickens in the 2022 second round out of Georgia.

Lassiter also isn’t the only Georgia player connected to the Steelers in the first round for 2024. Bulldogs offensive tackle Amarius Mims has also been a popular mock draft pick for Pittsburgh early this offseason.

With Lassiter, though, the Steelers would be landing an elite cornerback prospect for the second straight offseason.

“Lassiter is one of the top cornerbacks in this year’s draft. A well-rounded player, he will definitely be selected in the earlier rounds,” the Bleacher Report NFL scouting department wrote. “He has the versatility to play in multiple schemes and does a very good job of defending the run.

“He will have to continue to work on play strength, along with his play against the pass downfield, but Lassiter will have the chance to play early in his career.”

In Pittsburgh, that would be opposite Porter, who received recognition as one of the best rookie cornerbacks in 2023.

Steelers CB Depth Heading into 2024 Offseason

Pairing Porter with another elite cornerback talent should be very enticing for the Steelers. But any depth at the position will likely be welcomed this offseason.

Veteran cornerbacks Levi Wallace, James Pierre, Chandon Sullivan and Elijah Riley are all pending free agents this offseason. The aforementioned Patrick Peterson is still under contract but will turn 34 years old in July.

At the end of December, Peterson mentioned moving to safety as a possibility for 2024 to prolong his career. But at this point, it seems just as likely that the Steelers cut the veteran to save $6.85 million against the salary cap.

If the Steelers release Peterson and don’t re-sign any of their pending cornerback free agents, Porter would be the team’s only returning cornerback who played more than 50 defensive snaps in 2023.

More than likely, Kiper is right — an injection of young talent is coming to cornerback in Pittsburgh. It could very well begin with Lassiter in the first round.