Steelers Likely Adding Two More Starters

The Pittsburgh Steelers aren't done making big-time additions just yet.

Oct 30, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Avonte Maddox (29) / Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers have filled nearly of their missing positions this offseason, but as they approach the end of free agency and begin the final steps toward the NFL Draft, there are two starters they do not have on their roster.

As they look to close out their roster for 2024, the Steelers are still searching for a center and a slot cornerback. They say they may have a center in Nate Herbig, but it doesn't feel as if they'll leave such an important position up to a player who doesn't naturally play there. After moving on from Mason Cole, the feel is that Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin want a sure thing, which could mean they look to add one early in the NFL Draft.

To this point, they've sent offensive line coach Pat Meyer to Oregon's Pro Day to scout Jackson Powers-Johnson and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to Duke's Pro Day to look at Graham Barton. The team met with Georgia's Sedrick Van Pran at the NFL Combine and they're expected to bring in West Virginia's Zach Frazier for a local pre-draft visit.

If one had to guess, chances are they add their starting center in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft.

Then, there's slot corner. Ironically, when asked about the center position at the 2024 NFL Meetings, Tomlin referred to the slot as the other position thay may not be ideal, but is a "work in progress."

"You know, it's still a work in progress. Obviously, we still got (Nate) Herbig on our roster, but we got some work to do there, whether it's continued in free agency and or the draft. We'll get something done, obviously, at that position," Tomlin told All Steelers. "But you can say the same thing about, you know, some other obvious positions where we might be short on the depth chart from a number standpoint."

The Steelers have options there as well. Tomlin said he's open to the return of Patrick Peterson, who would likely bounce inside to start alongside Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson. They've also met with several cornerbacks at the NFL Combine and have a pre-draft visit scheduled with Pitt star M.J. Devonshire, who All Steelers' Stephen Thompson says is a great fit for the slot at the NFL level.

"He's got great speed. He's a ballhawk as well. I think he would fit really well as a slot corner," Thompson said on All Steelers Talk. He's not particularly big, neither height nor weight, but he's got some nice long arms. He's sticky in coverage. I like M.J. I think M.J. has really impressed a lot of people with his physical attributes at the Combine and at his Pro Day. Then, you turn on the field and he had kind of a rough start to the season - first third or so of the season last year - but he's been a number one corner for the last two seasons and played really well for the most part in that position."

If they'd like to take the free agent route, another Pitt name in Avonte Maddox is still available, as if Chandon Sullivan, who could re-sign with Pittsburgh.

Expect additions to both of these positions before the end of the offseason. Khan has made it known numerous times that he's looking to put a winning team together for this season, and with the moves he's made to this point, there's no sense they'll hit the breaks now.

Two more starters are likely coming to the Steelers.

Make sure you bookmark All Steelers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

• Steelers DT Named Trade Candidate
• Steelers Interested in Washington QB Michael Penix
• James Harrison Responds to Travis Kelce
• Travis Kelce's Hilarious Story About Steelers' James Harrison
• Steelers Named Landing Spot for Dak Prescott

Subscribe to the All Steelers YouTube Channel