Getty
Pro Football Network’s Ian Cummings projected the Pittsburgh Steelers to replace Darius Slay in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Pittsburgh Steelers secondary has been a significant disappointment through the first seven weeks of the 2025 NFL Draft. The team added veterans Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay over the offseason to help, but those two former All-Pros haven’t led to very different results.
Coming off arguably the secondary’s worst performance of the season against the Cincinnati Bengals, Pro Football Network’s Ian Cummings projected the Steelers to try and fix their secondary next offseason through the draft.
In his latest mock draft Saturday, Cummings predicted the Steelers to select Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy in the first round.
“Unexpected circumstances have positioned the Steelers as the favorites to win the AFC North and secure a postseason berth in 2025, but there’s still work to do before this team is a sustained contender year in and year out. Adding youth at CB is one such key,” wrote Cummings.
“Joey Porter Jr. has struggled at times, and Darius Slay is a short-term rental. In this 2026 NFL Mock Draft, I targeted a CB who resembles Slay: Jermod McCoy. McCoy hasn’t played in 2025, but his 2024 tape is elite and showcases his man-coverage prowess.”
The Steelers added Slay on a one-year, $10 million deal. Next year, the team could add McCoy to play opposite Porter on the outside. The Steelers could then still keep Ramsey as a versatile cornerback to split his time in the slot and outside.
Could Steelers Replace Darius Slay With First-Round CB?
Based on draft history, the likelihood the Steelers target a cornerback in the first round is slim. The organization has done that just once over the past 28 years.
That one time they did, things didn’t exactly go as planned. In 2016, the Steelers picked cornerback Artie Burns at No. 25 overall.
Draft pundits heavily criticized the team for the selection. The pundits were correct — Burns was a bust, as he started just 32 games in four seasons and didn’t receive a second contract.
The Steelers chose Joey Porter Jr. at No. 32 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. But technically, Porter was a second-round pick.
While Porter has produced mixed results, he’s at least proven to be worth starter. The Steelers, though, have tried to pair Porter with over-the-hill veterans the past couple years.
The 34-year-old Slay is the latest example.
Drafting a first-round cornerback would start a much-needed youth movement in Pittsburgh’s secondary. It could also potentially raise Porter’s play, as it could take some pressure off Pittsburgh’s current young cornerback.
CB Jermod McCoy Would Come With Risks
It’s relatively easy to argue the Steelers should draft a cornerback early in the 2026 NFL Draft. Predicting which one is the right fit for Mike Tomlin is much harder.
Cummings pegged McCoy to the Steelers. While the Tennessee cornerback is talented, he hasn’t played at all this season because of injury.
It’s possible he doesn’t return before the end of the year.
If that’s the case, an NFL team picking McCoy in the first round would be selecting a prospect who will be away from the field an entire season.
McCoy began his college career at Oregon State. He played his first season with the Volunteers last year. During 2024, he had 44 combined tackles with nine pass defenses and four interceptions.
Dave Holcomb is a sports reporter covering the NFL and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions. Originally from Pittsburgh, Holcomb has covered college and professional sports for outlets including FanSided, Rotowire and Yardbarker. More about Dave Holcomb
More Heavy on Steelers
Loading more stories
