Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley participates in Penn State's football pro day on Wednesday, March 18.

The following is the first of seven Pittsburgh Steelers position-by-position analyses for the 2026 NFL Draft, which begins Thursday, April 23 in Pittsburgh:

CORNERBACKS

Current roster: Joey Porter Jr., Jamel Dean, Jalen Ramsey, Brandin Echols, Asante Samuel Jr., Cory Trice, Donte Kent, D’Shawn Jamison, Daequan Hardy, Doneiko Slaughter

Last five drafts: Porter (second round, 2023) has improved each year and is now a solid NFL starter. Trice (seventh round, 2023) showed promise but has been hampered by injuries. Ryan Watts (sixth round, 2024) had to medically retire, and Kent (seventh round, 2025) was hurt his entire rookie year.

Top cornerbacks available: Jermod McCoy, Tennessee; Mansoor Delane, LSU; Avieon Terrell, Clemson; Brandon Cisse, South Carolina; Colton Hood, Tennessee

PSU/Pitt/WVU players: Michael Coats Jr. is West Virginia’s best chance to have a player drafted after his superb pro day.

Possible Steelers picks: Chris Johnson, San Diego State; D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana; Keionte Scott, Miami; Malik Muhammad, Texas

Analysis: The Steelers signed Dean, who played seven seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, to pair with Porter, and Samuel provides veteran depth. Ramsey could play nickel, along with Echols, or play free safety like he did most of last season. The Steelers, though, need to keep adding young talent at the position — Porter has one year remaining on his rookie contract — and they have enough picks in the first four rounds (seven of them) to justify one selection on a corner. They had Johnson in for an official visit, and he could still be available in the second round. They have three third-round picks, so players like Scott, Arizona State’s Keith Abney II or Muhammad become more enticing then.

SAFETIES

Current roster: DeShon Elliott, Jaquan Brisker, Sebastian Castro, Jack Henderson

Last five drafts: Tre Norwood (seventh round, 2021) played two years with the Steelers before getting waived before the 2023 season.

Top safeties available: Caleb Downs, Ohio State; Dillon Thieneman, Oregon; Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo; A.J. Haulcy, LSU

PSU/Pitt/WVU players: Penn State’s Zakee Wheatley is projected as a third-rounder.

Possible Steelers picks: McNeil-Warren; Haulcy; Wheatley; Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina; Bud Clark, TCU; Genesis Smith, Arizona

Analysis: The Steelers’ current roster doesn’t appear to have much depth at safety, however, Ramsey could easily be the team’s starting free safety on day one. Also, veteran free agent Darnell Savage is reportedly going to sign with the team at some point. With Elliott returning from injury and Pittsburgh native Brisker coming over from the Chicago Bears, safety isn’t as big of a need as it might seem. However, just like at cornerback, the team needs more depth as was evident last year when injuries forced them to do some creative lineup changes. Downs and Thieneman will most likely be gone when the Steelers pick at No. 21 in the first round, and McNeil-Warren probably won’t last until their next pick at No. 53. Players like Wheatley, Kilgore, Clark or Smith could be high value picks in the late third or fourth rounds.

Coming Thursday: Linebackers