The Steelers have used all the tools to try to find cornerbacks — high draft picks, not-so-high draft picks, undrafted rookies, trades and unrestricted free agency.
The place they’ve had success? The scrap heap, players who were discarded by other teams and languished until signed by the Steelers.
They discovered starter Ross Cockrell that way after Buffalo released him two years ago. And now they seem to have found another.
Mike Hilton landed on the Steelers’ practice squad in December after two teams released him early last season without ever making their roster. Now he is vying to become the Steelers top slot cornerback over their most senior defensive back and two relatively high draft choices.
Don’t be surprised if he wins it.
One thing the Steelers will not do is trade for Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who has a guaranteed $17 million due this year on the franchise tag. CBS Sports reported last week that the Steelers were among the teams “sniffing around on a possible Johnston trade.” Several Steelers sources laughed at that premise.
But there is Hilton, and maybe Coty Sensabaugh, another former big-ticket cornerback with the Rams.
“I feel like I’m making the best of the opportunity,” Hilton said. “I’ve been impressing my coaches and my teammates. I just have to go out and do the best I can to help the team win.”
He did all of that in the Steelers’ 20-12 win over the New York Giants in their preseason opener. He had a sack for a 10-yard loss, a quarterback hurry, a low tackle for a stop on fourth-and-2, recovered a muffed punt and contributed six tackles, four on defense, two on special teams.
That performance followed his excellent practices at Saint Vincent College.
“It wasn’t too big for him,” Mke Tomlin said. “Forget the play, I thought the awareness and the communication and stuff in-game was no different from a practice setting, and that’s encouraging.”
The Steelers have been trying to find a replacement in the slot for 11th-year vet William Gay. They drafted Senquez Golson, a teammate of Hilton’s at Ole Miss, in the second round two years ago and he still cannot get on the field. They drafted Cam Sutton in the third round this year, and he missed most of camp with an injury.
Hilton, unwanted for three months last season as Jacksonville and then New England quickly cut him as a rookie, could be that slot man.
He stands just 5 foot 9, which is probably why he went undrafted after a standout four-year career at Mississippi.
Neither the Jaguars nor Patriots took a long look at him on special teams, where he excelled against the Giants on Friday night.
“So when I got here and they threw me on special teams, I just took advantage of the opportunity and it’s working out for me,” Hilton said.
What really works for him is his quickness, which a 5-9er in the slot must have.
“Quickness, physicality and just be able to play man,” Hilton explained as to the ideal abilities of a slot cornerback.
Gay played in the slot last year and could do so again if none of the others rises up. His chief rival for the job at the moment is Hilton, but it has not stopped the old fellow from aiding the competition.
“That’s the main guy,” Hilton said. “I pick his brain. He’s 11 years in. He’s played here awhile so he knows the ins and outs. I get any tips I can from him.”
Gay is another the Steelers found on the street. He played his first five years with them and then signed a multi-year deal with Arizona as a free agent. The Cardinals cut him after one season and the Steelers snapped him back up, in 2013.
Sensabaugh was another unwanted soul. He signed a three-year, $15 million contract with the Los Angeles Rams as a free agent last March. They inexplicably cut him after four games. He drifted to the New York Giants, where he finished the season and became a free agent. The Steelers signed him for two years at a reported, $2.6 million, including a $425,000 signing bonus. That means they have every indication that he will play.
They only wish their young draft picks could do so.
Ed Bouchette: ebouchette@post-gazette.com.
First Published: August 17, 2017, 7:20 p.m.
