The Pittsburgh Steelers flirted with trading up all afternoon but in the end they stayed put at the 56th pick in the second round. The Steelers addressed their most pressing area of need by selecting cornerback Senquez Golson of Ole Miss.
Right off the bat what Golson brings is ball-hawk skills that his secondary desperately needs. He recorded ten interceptions in 2014 on the way to All SEC honors. The fact that he primarily worked in zone and off coverages fits the Steelers’ defensive scheme to a tee.
At 5′ 9″ the only question Golson faces is whether he can play on the outside in the NFL. With so many receivers measuring well over six feet I can’t help but wonder if he will be able to cover these receivers especially in red zone situations.
Besides that, this kid has all the tools. He was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the eighth round of the 2011 Draft as a centerfielder and that just illustrates what kind of athlete he is.
Along with his ball skills, I also like the fact that he is more than willing to come up and support the run. He’s aggressive and has a bit of a feisty streak in him that I really love.
Do I wish the Steelers were able to grab a corner that was significantly bigger? Ya I sure as heck do but Golson was clearly the best option on the board at the time. Whether he develops into a starting corner on the outside is uncertain but he’ll be given every opportunity.
I still look for the Steelers to add another corner later in the draft.
