Daylen Everette is a 6-1+ cornerback who prides himself on his physicality, and who ran a 4.38 40 at the NFL Combine. He was named first-team All-SEC after a senior season that capped a career in which he started 41 games for the University of Georgia.
His personality? "Leader of the DB room," an NFL scout told The Athletic. "Carries himself like a future coach."
This after coming out of IMG Academy -- and a 17-1 record -- as 247Sports' third-ranked cornerback in the nation.
What's it all mean? Not much during the first spring of his first NFL season, but it does say that Everette is the bluest of blue chips, the very definition of high pedigree.
And yet the Steelers got him late in the third round with pick number 85.
Did that cause him to feel a bit disrespected?
"I always carry myself with a chip, always have a chip on my shoulder," Everette said during a brief post-practice interview. "Under the radar or not, I'm just gonna play ball. I don't try to worry about that. I just try to make sure I'm the proof myself."
There was once -- almost 30 years ago, in fact -- another third-round pick (92nd overall) from Georgia who landed with the Steelers, and he became a superstar. He used to talk about the chip on his shoulder, except he was a wide receiver.
"Oh," Everette said as the light bulb turned on. "Hines Ward?"
Yep. Has he talked to you?
"I haven't heard from him. He was one of the best to ever do it, so I'll forever respect his game, especially here."
Was his name mentioned at Georgia?
"They still mention him."
Ward was a late third-rounder, one of the last third-round picks, because he didn't have an ACL.
"I saw that," Everette said. "That's amazing."
So Ward was drafted later than expected and had a chip on his shoulder. He didn't think he was respected.
"Yeah, that's how you've got to experience that. It brings another fire to you."
Everette didn't seem to need much fire as a youngster playing at his hometown of Norfolk, Va.'s Norview High School. As a freshman, he played cornerback (and wide receiver) on the same defensive unit as his older brother, Donovan, who would move on to play defensive end at Elon and Mercyhurst. (Their younger brother, Dominick, a quarterback, was named Virginia's Class 5 Offensive Player of the Year as a 2025 sophomore and is sorting through several D-1 offers that include Indiana and WVU.)
As a sophomore, Daylen intercepted 11 passes and was named All-Region, but Norview won only two games. The COVID pandemic hit the following year and Norview's fall season was cancelled, so Everette transferred to IMG Academy, which describes itself as "a preparatory boarding school and sports training facility in Bradenton, Florida."
There, Everette became teammates with future NFL draft picks J.J. McCarthy, Kaytron Allen, Jihaad Campbell, Tyler Booker, and JC Latham. Loaded with talent, IMG compiled a 17-1 record during Everette's stint under Coach Pepper Johnson. Everette was named an Under Armour All-American and dubbed the No. 3 cornerback nationally by 247Sports.
He had received his first scholarship offer during his freshman year from Virginia State, and the D-1 offers -- including one from Pitt -- poured in during his sophomore season. After his junior season, Everette officially committed to Clemson, but five months later, after defensive coordinator Brent Venables left to take the Oklahoma head-coaching job, Everette changed his commitment to Georgia. As a true freshman, he became the top backup cornerback, playing in 14 games, including the national championship win over TCU.
"He's got a composure about him that I really like," Georgia coach Kirby Smart told DawgNation.com during Everette's freshman season. "He doesn't let a lot of things affect him. He's not real emotional. He has the mindset of a corner that's going to be a really good player. I don't know when that's going to happen, but he's got quiet confidence, he's smart, he's a really tough tackler and he's continuing to get better."
Everette became a starter his sophomore season, and was picked on as the "new kid" opposite future Houston Texans Pro Bowl CB Kamari Lassiter. Everette came away unscathed with 5 passes defensed and an interception. He would start 41 games from his sophomore through senior seasons and finished his college career with 5 interceptions. Everette also made 108 tackles his junior and senior seasons combined, an outstanding total for a cornerback. That and his career-high 8 passes defensed as a senior resulted in Everette being named first-team All-SEC.
"To play this game, you've got to be physical, and that's one thing at Georgia that we prided ourselves in," Everette said this spring. "Those are our DNA traits: toughness, composure, connection, resiliency. I feel like that gets you prepared physically for the next level. But then also they do a lot of things that will help you prepare mentally. I feel like without me being at the University of Georgia, I wouldn't even be in this position to be picked. I'll be forever grateful for my time at University of Georgia."
The path from Norfolk to Bradenton to Athens continues for Everette in Pittsburgh. The hope is that he can give the Steelers a second physical press-man cornerback opposite Joey Porter Jr.
New Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham was asked for his initial impressions of Everette.
"The size when you meet him. He's well put together in terms of build," Graham said. "I love the seriousness on his face. I'm not trying to make a read on how he's going to play as a football player by his demeanor, but his demeanor is what we're looking for. I think it's going to fit the mold of what we're trying to shape here with the Pittsburgh defense and what it has been in the past. But, just really good demeanor about this guy. And he has all the attributes to be a real physical presence out there on the perimeter."
Everette's new position coach is former Steelers cornerback Jason Simmons. His take on the rookie?
"When I think about him, I think about humility," Simmons said. "You know, he's played in a lot of big games, coming from Georgia. Let's just be honest. That guy has played in SEC championships, national championships. And you talk about being receptive to coaching? He absolutely is. He is a sponge. He's a bright guy. And he's poised as well. To be a young guy, to not go up and down, to realize when you say you're going against a quality receiver like DK Metcalf, he doesn't let that take him out of his technique. And I love the confidence."
The Steelers' coaching staff seemed to enjoy sending Everette up against the monstrous Metcalf during spring drills. In fact, Everette spent the entire spring playing with the first team due to Porter's "hold-in" and the easing into the new season by 30-year-old newcomer Jamel Dean.
Everette was asked about the beneif of going against Metcalf so often.
"He's a big, physical guy, so going against someone like him, it can help me with guarding anyone else," said Everette. "I enjoy going against him because I know it's helping me get better."
Everette played outside corner only, so he saw plenty of the Steelers' 6-foot-4 twin towers, Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. Did the tall, leggy corner get a chance to cover the smaller, quicker receivers?
"I haven't had to guard any small, quick guys, but I try to make sure I hold my own," Everette said. "You can't really attack them the same way as big, physical guys."
So, we'll see?
"Yeah," Everette said with a smile which seemed to suffest that he can't wait.
The Steelers' starting cornerbacks this spring: Daylen Everette (left) and Asante Samuel Jr. (Photo: Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports)