Participant: CB Donte Kent
Inventory Worth: Up
Reasoning: Whereas Donte Kent doesn’t have a roster spot locked up, the Steelers appear to need to take a protracted take a look at him. A rookie seventh-round choose, he has each cornerback and punt returner designations on the roster. The cornerback room is crowded, however there may be all the time room for particular teamers. And he’s additionally prepared to return kicks, which doesn’t damage his trigger, both.
The Steelers wouldn’t have drafted Donte Kent in the event that they didn’t see an opportunity for him to make the workforce. Particularly currently, with the workforce having retained all of its draft picks from the previous two lessons, the Steelers prioritize alternative.
And Donte Kent has an actual alternative, significantly if he could make a mark on particular groups. The cornerback room is crowded, however he might help himself stand out by exhibiting off his versatility. As a positive tackler, one wonders if they may additionally view him as safety-capable.
He would possibly need to give it a attempt, as a result of the Steelers have cornerbacks. With Joey Porter Jr., Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, Beanie Bishop Jr., Brandin Echols, Cory Trice Jr., and James Pierre, it’s arduous to see the place Donte Kent suits in. With Pierre, they even have their particular groups ace within the group already.
May Kent probably knock Bishop, final yr’s opening-day slot starter, off the 53-man roster? He wouldn’t be the primary unheralded participant to make a stir as a rookie solely to lose his spot. What the Steelers actually have now, as a minimum, is competitors.
And Kent’s return capacity actually opens up a wide range of pathways for him. In the event that they let him check out on kick returns, for instance, he might displace Cordarrelle Patterson. The Steelers might also be seeking to take Calvin Austin III off punt returns attributable to an elevated offensive function. It’s simply one among many issues for the workforce to contemplate when weighing one of the best path ahead for the rookie.
With the brand new league yr underway and the Steelers turning their roster over, it’s as soon as once more time to “take inventory”. It took some time, however we lastly noticed a few of that change the workforce talked about after the season ended. Actually, the transfer to commerce for WR DK Metcalf qualifies as a change, to not point out the accompanying contract. Oh, and so they additionally traded some man named George Pickens, which individuals discovered vital.
There’s nonetheless a protracted strategy to go earlier than we all know what this Steelers workforce goes to appear like. The mud is settled on each free company and the 2025 NFL Draft. What different strikes would possibly the workforce make, maybe surprising acquisitions or departures? In the event that they traded for one participant, they may actually commerce for an additional, or commerce one away. This can be a Steelers workforce ravenous for postseason success, however how determined are they for a playoff win in 2025?
