The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot of factors to point to that would make the case for them being a better team than they were in 2023. The quarterback situation is much improved, addressing the offensive line, and an improved cornerback room. Joey Porter Jr. is expected to take a big leap in his second season, and Donte Jackson was acquired in the Diontae Johnson trade who should be a reliable player as the team's second cornerback. Cory Trice Jr. is also set to make his regular season debut in 2024, after missing his entire rookie season in 2023 after suffering a knee injury during training camp.
Fans had high hopes for Trice going into his rookie year, and he was considered to be a potential steal as Pittsburgh selected him in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He is now back on the field, and he has been impressing during training camp ahead of the 2024 season. He isn't a threat to take the starting job from Jackson, but he provides the Steelers with some valuable depth at cornerback. Insider Ray Fittipaldo joined 93.7 The Fan on Friday and spoke about Trice's performance in camp.
"I just got done talking about the depth, and Cory Trice can solve a lot of those problems if he is ready for that role. You know, the last couple of years, they've had guys like James Pierre, who is a number three or number four outside corner. It just didn't work out. You need depth, you need quality depth behind your starters, and Trice is a guy that they're going to be watching closely here over the next couple of weeks. He had a nice pass break up to end practice yesterday and stop the Bills from scoring."
It's no secret the Steelers have struggled at the corner position, both with their starters and with depth. In recent years, guys like James Pierre were being relied upon to come into games and play meaningful snaps. Teams with aspirations of being great on defense can't have that, and it seems Pittsburgh might have found a gem in Trice who can be relied upon to play important snaps in coverage.
Pittsburgh had a clear goal during the 2023 NFL Draft: address the corner position with long athletic bodies. That's exactly what they did with Porter and Trice. Trice stands at 6'3", while Porter is 6'2", and both are aggressive off of the line of scrimmage. Porter broke out during his rookie season in 2023 and wound up being a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, and the organization is hoping they can see some similar development from Trice.
The second year corner isn't expected to be a star, but he needs to be someone the defense can count on in coverage in long-yardage situations. He will be on the field in dime packages, and occasionally while in relief of Porter and Jackson. If Trice can be reliable, it would keep Pittsburgh from looking for external corner help.
Steelers' Secondary Should Take A Serious Leap In 2024
Aside from the corners looking to be more reliable and consistent than the group in 2023, Pittsburgh also addressed the safety position. DeShon Elliott will join Minkah Fitzpatrick in the defensive backfield, and has been praised for his tackling and ability to cover tight ends. In addition to the secondary, Pittsburgh also improved their coverage abilities at the linebacker position. Both Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson are considered above average in coverage, which is an area the Steelers have struggled at in recent years.
With improvements all throughout the roster, and on the coaching staff, the Steelers are expecting to be a much improved team in 2024. They play one of the harder schedules in the league, but should be able to be a strong contender to make the playoffs in the AFC.
What do you expect from Trice in 2024?
