Heads turned when the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted cornerback Senquez Golson in the second round. Most of the top-flight cornerbacks were off the board in the first round by the time they picked at No. 22, so they had to wait until the 56th overall pick to fill their most pressing need of the offseason.
Looking closely, Golson is exactly what the Steelers need. Sure, it would be nicer to have him in a 6-foot-1 frame instead of a 5-foot-9 one, but Golson’s ball skills are what separate him from the pack as far as cornerbacks go in this draft.
The Steelers were ranked 25th in the NFL last season with just 11 turnovers. Not all of this was on the cornerbacks, as the defensive line failed to put consistent pressure on the quarterbacks, allowing them to pick apart an already struggling secondary. An improved and-hopefully-healthy linebacking corps will help this, but having cornerbacks who can handle wide receivers and make a play on the ball.
Despite his size, Golson has shown a knack or playing the ball. He picked off nine passes in his senior year at Ole Miss, earning unanimous first-team All-American and All-SEC honors. He is a fierce competitor who attacks the ball and has good instincts. He is a fantastic athlete, as he was drafted in the eighth round of the MLB draft by the Boston Red Sox.
Golson’s skill and commitment to his craft will fit him in perfectly with the Steelers, a team that is looking for a premier talent at cornerback. They’ve found one here.
Anthony Panciocco is a writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter at @anthonypantz9 or reach him at his email, [email protected].