Pressure is on the Steelers to Sign a $40 Million Cornerback in the 2024 Offseason.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot of needs for the 2024 offseason, with cornerback being among them.
The squad is set at wide receiver after selecting their CB1 in the previous draft class, but they desperately need a CB2 to return their defense to the high caliber for which the team is renowned.
Though Aaron Schatz of ESPN believes they’ll find their answer in free agency, they might yet go back to the draft to get their second corner.
Schatz identified Washington Commanders cornerback Kendall Fuller as the free agent the Steelers should sign this summer in an article listing the players each team in the NFL should sign.
A Lethargic Conclusion Among the Commanders
Fuller became a member of one of the NFL’s top defenses as soon as he joined the Commanders in 2020.
They had the fourth-lowest points allowed in the league during his first season.
The Commanders’ defense had a more difficult year in 2021, but they returned to the top 10 in terms of points allowed in 2022.
Then, in 2023, things went wrong for the defense.
By a wide margin, they were the poorest defense in the NFL. Compared to other teams in the league, they gave up 63 more points.
One major component of the issue was the pass defense.
They gave up the second-highest yards per passing attempt while allowing the most passing yards in the league. In addition, the Commanders let the opposition’s quarterbacks complete 66.2% of their throw attempts.
This past season, Fuller didn’t do anything to address those problems.
When throwing to him, opposing quarterbacks completed 67.1% of their passes. Additionally, he gave up 8.1 yards per targeted attempt. He gave up nine touchdowns as well.
It was a difficult way to end a productive career with the Commanders, and it casts doubt on his suitability for the Steelers this offseason.
Does He Make the Steelers?
This one is a little challenging to comprehend.
Without a doubt, the Steelers will need to select a new starting corner for the 2024 campaign.
As of right now, they have no one they can trust to line up with Jay Porter Jr.
Patrick Peterson is no longer an outsider.If he returns, Levi Wallace, a free agent, would still be a slot corner.
Someone external is needed by the team.
It is difficult to understand how Fuller is the right person for the job.
One thing the Steelers’ pass defense excelled at in 2023 was preventing opponents’ completions.
With a 60.6% completion percentage allowed, they ranked sixth in the league. Peterson was even able to hold opponents to 60%.
Adding a corner who permits a high completion rate could make what they did well disappear.
Additionally, his yards per attempt allowed were lower than the 2023 statistics for the Steelers. In that category, they were already in the lowest 10.
He also doesn’t do much to improve their slowness. Compared to Porter Jr., he ran a slower 40.
He would be costly on top of everything else. According to Sportrac’s current projections, he will earn almost $14 million annually with his next contract.
This offseason, the Steelers will need to locate a starting corner, but I don’t think Fuller should be that guy.
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