New Steelers Cornerback Brings Exciting Future Potential

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers brought in new cornerback Darius Rush, hoping they can build something for the future. After all, Rush has the qualities the team is looking for in a cornerback right now. With Desmond King not working out, it made natural sense to bring in someone they had high hopes for in the future. And they think that Rush can be that guy for them.

He fits in so well that Rush might have thought about being a Steeler long before this week. He thought he was going to be a Steeler in April. The South Carolina product took a Top 30 draft visit to the Steel City and then met with the Pittsburgh staff. He thought they liked his combination of size and speed and were looking to add that to their cornerbacks’ room.

Even after the Steelers drafted Joey Porter Jr. in the second round, the team still sought what Rush brings to the table.

But after the Steelers took outside linebacker Nick Herbig in the fourth round, the Indianapolis Colts snagged Rush six picks later. The Steelers picked Cory Trice out of Purdue in the seventh round instead.

Trice was lost for the season to a knee injury in training camp, and the Steelers have for all intents and purposes replaced him with the addition of Rush. However, in the future, the team will have a collection of unique cornerbacks to work with in their scheme.

Steelers CB Darius Rush at practice, Oct. 18, 2023 – Alan Saunders / Steelers Now

“I knew there was a lot of interest in terms of wanting me on their team,” Rush said. “I had a great interaction when I was here with the front office and the coaching staff. It’s all about timing. This is just one of those times where I’m able to be where I was wanted.”

Porter Jr., Trice, and Rush come from the same class, but their height and arm length combinations are uncanny. Pittsburgh came into the NFL Draft to find guys that could make throwing the deep ball on them harder. But they have looked to see those press coverage cornerbacks that can allow them to present specific matchup problems for teams at the cornerback position. Here are each player’s heights and arm lengths when coming out this spring in the NFL Draft.

Joey Porter Jr: 6-foot-2, 34 inches
Darius Rush: 6-foot-2, 33 3/8 inches
Cory Trice: 6-foot-3, 32 3/8 inches

Rush is an intriguing young cornerback who brings a lot of traits to the table. He ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at 6-foot-2. That’s not something that you can find often at cornerback. But the Steelers are developing a rare type at cornerback with the addition of Rush to the group.