Steelers Met with Pair of Early-Round Texas DBs
The Pittsburgh Steelers top brass did not just meet with Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers when Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan and company were in Austin for the Longhorns’ pro day on Tuesday.
The Steelers also met with defensive tackle Vernon Broughton, who they also had a formal interview with at the 2025 NFL Combine, and also a pair of early-round defensive back options in cornerback Jahdae Barron and safety Andrew Mukuba.
Barron is widely projected to be a first-round draft pick, and is a strong contender for the Steelers at No. 21 overall. Barron has emerged as the lone cornerback in the back half of the first round.
Barron had an excellent NFL combine, running a 4.39-second 40-yard dash and posting an overall 8.88 Relative Athletic Score despite being somewhat undersized at 5-foot-10 3/4 and 194 pounds. One of his most-comparable players per RAS is Steelers outside cornerback Darius Slay. Barron could play inside right away at the NFL level, while having the upside to also become a starting outside option to replace Slay in 2025.
A redshirt senior in 2024, Barron was a three-year starter for the Longhorns. He was a consistent contributor in coverage, but broke out as a playmaker in 2024, tying for the SEC lead with five interceptions.
Mukuba, a transfer from Clemson to Texas for 2024, was a three-year starter for the Tigers before heading to the Longhorns, and he, too had five interceptions in 2024.
Mukuba is a bit undersized for the safety position at 5-foot-11 1/4 and 186 pounds, but his 4.45-second 40-yard dash shows rare long speed.
The Steelers have been serious about scouting both cornerbacks and safeties in the 2025 NFL Draft class, and both positions should be considered high on the team’s board.
Broughton is among a group of later-round defensive tackles the Steelers have been scouting, with several day three options coming to UPMC Rooney Sports Complex for pre-draft visits, a sign the Steelers could double-dip at that position.
