The Pittsburgh Steelers have done a great job of adding to the roster throughout the 2026 offseason, and that statement is true all the way through the 2026 NFL Draft. Positions were upgraded appropriately, and valuable depth was found in both free agency and through the draft. Rosters change a bunch from season to season, especially when there is a near complete coaching overhaul in the organization. That is what the Steelers are going through, which means a lot of players that have been given a few chances in Pittsburgh might be getting kicked to the curb when the time comes to announce the final roster.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' new head coach, Mike McCarthy, with Team President Art Rooney II and General Manager Omar Khan at McCarthy's introductory press conference in Pittsburgh, PA.
One room that is pretty crowded in Pittsburgh is the secondary, particularly at cornerback. The obvious starters in the room are Joey Porter Jr. and Jamel Dean, while Brandin Echols and Asante Samuel Jr. have a good amount of experience. Third-round pick Daylen Everette is also going to make the final roster. That's five roster spots already filled at cornerback, not to mention Jalen Ramsey, who could spend some time in the slot in 2026.
The Steelers are also packed at safety, which means the secondary is pretty much set and Cory Trice Jr. and Donte Kent both were not mentioned. Beat writer Mike DeFabo believes both of those young cornerbacks will fail to make the final 53-man roster in Pittsburgh, which he shared in an article on Wednesday on The Athletic.
DeFabo didn't provide any analysis on why either player would be cut, but it is just a numbers game. Both have had injury issues to begin their professional careers, and there are so many guys ahead of them that it is hard to imagine they would find a way onto the final roster.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers cornerback Cory Trice Jr. (27) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
There was a ton of excitement surrounding Trice after he was drafted in the seventh round back during the 2023 NFL Draft, but injuries have slowed him down. He was able to get on the field a bit during the 2024 season. He made some plays, but injuries hampered him that year. He is entering his fourth season in the NFL and he has played in just six games.
Trice has always been a fan favorite as he has all of the physical traits of a great cornerback. He also came up with the game-sealing interception against the Denver Broncos back in 2024.
Kent is probably an easier cut to make. He was drafted in 2025 in the seventh round. He is a cornerback but he was drafted for his abilities as a punt returner. He has no professional experience as he missed all of his rookie season. The cornerback room is full, and the Steelers also seem to have figured out their return game. Jaylen Warren has experience returning kicks, and the Steelers drafted Kaden Wetjen for that exact reason. Eli Heidenreich is another option on special teams when it comes to returns. There is likely no way for Kent to fit into this roster.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers cornerback Donte Kent (34) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Steelers Corners Only Have One Way Onto The Roster
Trice and Kent really only have one way onto the final roster, and ironically, that is injuries. If some other cornerbacks in the room that are currently ahead of them go down in training camp it might open a path for either player to make the final 53-man roster. The same can be said for Kent when it comes to the return game. If any mixture of Warren, Wetjen, or Heidenreich miss time, a lane would open for Kent to make a good impression. Things do not look good for either player, but a lot can happen between now and the start of the 2026 season.
What do you think of this prediction from DeFabo? Do you think either Kent or Trice will make the final roster? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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