ESPN Mock Draft Has Steelers Touchdown Ball-Hawk Cornerback
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ focus is on Sunday’s matchup towards the Philadelphia Eagles. However in a fast preview of what the dialogue will ultimately shift to, ESPN’s newest mock draft has Pittsburgh touchdown a lanky nook close to the tip of the primary spherical. Area Yates gave the Steelers junior Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston with the twenty seventh general choice.
“When finding out Hairston’s 2023 movie over the summer season, his instincts and really feel for the sport stood out to me. He has a refined manner of figuring out the right time to assault and create turnover alternatives. That has continued in 2024, accumulating 1 pick-six (his sixth profession interception), 2 compelled fumbles, 5 go breakups and 1 sack over seven video games.”
It’s the identical choice The Athletic’s Dane Brugler made in his latest mock.
Per Kentucky’s roster, Hairston is listed at 6-1, 186 kilos. That places him on the leaner facet and a construct just like CB Joey Porter Jr., who got here out of the 2023 NFL Draft at 6024, 193 kilos. By way of seven video games this yr, he has 25 tackles (one for a loss) with 4 go breakups and one interception. A shoulder damage restricted his enjoying time and impression this season.
His 2023 season noticed him put up extra spectacular numbers, main the SEC with 5 interceptions. A playmaker with the ball in his palms, he has three profession pick-sixes, together with a 25-yard rating towards Ohio on his lone 2024 takeaway.
As Yates factors out, Hairston’s play-making expertise would mesh effectively in a Steelers’ scheme that need to be aggressive on the soccer. Pittsburgh leads the NFL in takeaways this season and offseason addition Donte Jackson paces the workforce with 5 interceptions.
Jackson is a pending free agent and if he indicators elsewhere, cornerback will develop into a direct want. James Pierre is a particular teamer, Cam Sutton signed a one-year deal and is not outfitted to be an out of doors nook, and Cory Trice Jr. spent half of 2024 on injured reserve.
Assuming he declares for the draft, we’ll have a full report on Hairston within the offseason as one in all our a number of hundred pre-draft scouting stories.
Yates’ mock has Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders going No. 1 general to the New York Giants whereas Miami (FL) QB Cam Ward is taken second by the Las Vegas Raiders. Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter is third to the New England Patriots. Different notable names in his mock embrace Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty chosen by the Dallas Cowboys twelfth general and Penn State TE Tyler Warren twenty fourth to the Los Angeles Chargers.
