Apr 23, 2013 4 min read

In each of the past two seasons, the Steelers have led the NFL in pass defense.

But Pittsburgh also has been at the bottom of the pack in terms of takeaways, with the pass defense being largely responsible. Over their last 32 games, the Steelers have just 21 interceptions, with defensive backs accounting for 15.

Finding defensive backs who can take the ball away from the other team while also playing solid defense is a key for the Steelers.

Pittsburgh believes it has one such player in cornerback Cortez Allen, who had a pair of interceptions and forced three fumbles playing as the third cornerback for most of last season. With starting corernback Keenan Lewis having left for New Orleans as a free agent, Allen will step into the starting lineup opposite Ike Taylor.

The Steelers also re-signed veteran William Gay, who left as a free agent after the 2011 season, to battle youngsters Curtis Brown and Josh Victorian and veteran Justin King for the third corner position.

Where the Steelers lack depth is at safety. Starters Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark are solid when healthy. Top backups Will Allen and Ryan Mundy, however, both left in free agency, leaving Pittsburgh with only Robert Golden and Damon Cromartie-Smith, a pair of former practice squad players, as backups.

With Taylor, Polamalu and Clark each more than 30 years old, replacing some of that secondary depth will be critical for the Steelers in the NFL draft, which begins Thursday and concludes Saturday.

The Steelers have eight picks, including the 17th selection in the first round, in the seven-round draft.

And thanks to the increase in teams using spread offenses in college football, there are more cover guys available in the draft.

“I think the draft is deep in the secondary, as it has been the last number of years,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “Corners and sub-package corners and hybrid safeties are aplenty.”

And with spread offenses starting to crop up in the NFL, as many as seven defensive backs could be selected in the first round of this year’s draft.

Alabama’s Dee Milliner is considered the top cornerback prospect, though he had some injury issues in college that could scare some teams away. Milliner has a labrum issue in his shoulder that could require surgery and keep him out of action until the start of training camp.

Houston’s D.J. Hayden has made a late push up draft boards and could supplant Milliner as the top cornerback.

A hybrid corner/safety who might interest the Steelers in the middle of the first round is Florida State’s Xavier Rhodes. A 6-2, 210-pound cornerback, Rhodes ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash at the combine and also displayed an excellent 40 1/2-inch standing vertical jump. He is considered a very solid cover corner, but also could safety given his physical nature.

Oh, and he had eight interceptions in three seasons for the Seminoles, showing good ball skills.

Other possible first-round cornerbacks include Washington’s Desmond Trufant, Boise State’s Jamar Taylor and Mississippi State’s Darius Slay.

In later rounds, cornerbacks Blidi Wreh-Wilson of Connecticut, B.W. Webb of William & Mary – Mike Tomlin’s alma mater – Tharold Simon of LSU and Will Davis of Utah State could draw the Steelers’ interest.

At safety, Texas’ Kenn Vaccaro is considered the top prospect and could interest the Steelers.

A 6-0, 214-pound senior, Vaccaro is comfortable playing close to the line of scrimmage. Texas used him to cover the opponent’s slot receiver.

Other first-round safety prospects include Florida’s Matt Elam, Florida International’s Jonathan Cyprien and LSU’s Eric Reid.

In later rounds, Fresno State’s Phillip Thomas, Shamarko Thomas of Syracuse, Jonathan Meeks of Clemson and USC’s T.J. McDonald could interest the Steelers.