The Pittsburgh Steelers have several options with the No. 21 overall pick in next month's NFL Draft in Green Bay.
One option is the obvious one, selecting a quarterback for the future, regardless of whether or not Aaron Rodgers is going to suit up in the black and gold next year.
But another option is shoring up the defensive secondary.
And that's exactly what ESPN has happening in its latest seven-round mock draft, with the selection of Florida State cornerback Azareye'h Thomas.
"It's no secret the Steelers need a quarterback for the short and long term, but I expect them to add a veteran before the draft instead of overdrafting for a passer as they did with Kenny Pickett in 2022. Instead, I have them picking a foundational defensive player to help compensate for an aging roster and missed draft picks. Thomas is a big cornerback at 6-2 and 197 pounds, with the speed to play press coverage and hang in man situations. He started one season at Florida State and did a great job eliminating targets.
"A banner Senior Bowl week launched him into the first round, and he'd be a great fit with third-year corner Joey Porter Jr. With Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins locked up long-term in Cincinnati, the Steelers need all the coverage help they can get."
Thomas appeared in 37 games for the Seminoles over the past three seasons and posted 95 combined tackles with 64 solo and nine for loss. He added a half-sack and two interceptions with 15 passes defended, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.
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This story was originally published March 27, 2025 at 4:50 PM.