Steelers Scout Top Cornerback Draft Talent

The Steelers sent a scout to TCU to watch Saturday’s BYU and TCU game. According to Ethan Love, the Steelers are one of the teams, and the main attraction for them will be TCU cornerback Josh Newton. Newton is considered a fringe first-round prospect and certainly in the area where Pittsburgh is slated to draft.

Newton came into the season as the next big cornerback out of TCU. Newton comes in a different mold in a growing line of productive defensive backs. Listed at 6 feet, 190 pounds, Newton has some severe length that he brings to the table. From a baseline athletic standpoint, the physical tools in a straight-line sense are all there for Newton. Newton’s agility and long speed stand out significantly on film. When he goes to the NFL Combine, there is little doubt that Newton will test exceptionally well.

A senior, this is the type of player that the Steelers could fall in love with from a scouting standpoint. Newton will likely be at the all-star games, such as the Senior Bowl, for Mike Tomlin and staff to evaluate up close and personal. But if the team’s reported interest in Deonte Banks and Christian Gonzalez was as genuine as it may have been in this past cycle, Newton should be firmly on their radar in 2024.

He’s not the only prospect, as BYU has a few players to watch, including offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia. Quarterback Kedon Slovis is having a bounce-back season and figures to be a day three selection with how he plays with the Cougars.

So, the trip should be multi-faceted for the Steelers scouting staff. But so far, they have seen plenty of the top cornerbacks in the NFL Draft on their tour of Saturdays. It projects as their top need for the 2024 NFL Draft right now.