Steelers Sign CB Cory Trice to Rookie Contract

The Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to terms with Cory Trice Jr. on a rookie contract, according to a report by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2-Houston.

According to Wilson, the deal is for $3.924 million over four years with an $84,436 signing bonus. Over The Cap estimated the four-year contract to be worth around $3.9 million with a signing bonus of just under $85,000. The Steelers used the first of two seventh-round selections (No. 241) on the Purdue cornerback. 

Some of the expert’s mock drafts had Trice going as high as the third round but fell to the Steelers in the seventh due to the medical concerns surrounding the 22-year-old cornerback. 

Trice’s official medical examinations were not released but it is public knowledge that he had a history of leg injuries prior to the Steelers drafting him. 

Trice broke his ankle during his senior year of high school. In 2021, Trice suffered a high ankle sprain and then tore his ACL during that same season. Trice returned to action last year but a knee brace hindered his production. 

It is unknown if Trice will have to play with a knee brace during his professional career. 

Trice is an intriguing prospect due to his height and tackling ability. Trice stands at 6-foot-3 which is exactly the mold of cornerbacks that the Steelers aim to land. Omar Khan talked about the possibility of Trice playing safety as well due to his bigger frame. 

Looking at the current cornerback room, the Steelers have a multitude of cornerbacks over the 6-foot mark. Patrick Peterson is 6-foot-1, while Ahkello Witherspoon and Joey Porter Jr. are both 6-foot-2. 

In Trice’s time as a Boilermaker, he recorded five interceptions, 20 pass breakups, and 105 tackles. In 2022, Pro Football Focus named Trice to the All-Big Ten Third Team. He was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in the coaches and media polls. 

The Steelers selected Porter to kick off the second round and circled back the next day for Trice, who may end up being the team’s starting cornerback duo for years to come.