The Pittsburgh Steelers finished the 2015 regular season with a 10-6 record and made it to the divisional round of the playoffs despite a pass defense that struggled to stop opposing offenses.
The Steelers finished 30th in the league in terms of passing yards allowed last season, and while their secondary suffered some injuries, look for general manager Kevin Colbert to make some moves this offseason to bolster the team's secondary. The Steelers have filled holes on their offensive line and at the tight end position, signing players like offensive tackle Ryan Harris and tight end Ladarius Green, and they will likely look to target their secondary in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
One former Steelers cornerback, Ike Taylor, has projected his former team to select Virginia Tech cornerback Kendall Fuller. "I know what a Steeler looks like," Taylor wrote. "He's a Steeler, point blank." Taylor played his entire 12-year career for the Steelers, recording over 636 combined tackles and 14 interceptions, and he likely knows better than most what the Steelers would be looking for in starting cornerback.
Fuller only played in the first three games of the Hokies 2015 season with a torn meniscus, but he ended up missing the rest season, as his injury required surgery. Reports have surfaced that his knee injury has many NFL franchises worried and that his medical check at the 2016 NFL Combine did not go well or give NFL teams the results they were looking for.
Despite concerns, many project Fuller to go in the first to round of the draft, and he has drawn comparisons with his brother Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller. The 5-foot-11, 187-pound prospect lacks the size that many NFL franchises look for in a first round cornerback, but his instincts and playmaking ability will likely push one team to select him in the first round.
In his sophomore season, the Hokies corner recorded 54 combined tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks and two interceptions. Fuller could fill an immediate hole for the Steelers at corner, but Colbert is surely looking at every corner and safety prospect, as he is looking to land a cornerstone player with the 25th overall pick.
Florida Gators safety Keanu Neal is reportedly "in the conversation" as well for the Steelers' first round pick, and expect Pittsburgh to take the best player available when they are on the clock, as there are a few corners and safeties that the Steelers could look to target in the first round.
