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The Pittsburgh Steelers have been on what feels like an endless mission to fix their cornerback situation. When they grabbed Joey Porter Jr. in the second round of the 2023 draft, it was definitely a step in the right direction, but depth issues still forced them to ship off Diontae Johnson to land Donte’ Jackson last offseason. Now with Jackson hitting the open market, the Steelers have made moves this offseason to at least secure their starting lineup.
The Black and Gold didn’t waste any time snatching up veteran Darius Slay after Philadelphia let him walk. That move instantly gives Pittsburgh arguably their best outside cornerback duo in years with Slay pairing alongside Porter. They didn’t stop there — they also brought in Brandin Echols from the Jets, who’ll battle with last year’s undrafted gem Beanie Bishop Jr. for slot duties.
For the first time in a long while, the top of Pittsburgh’s secondary depth chart looks legit.
But dig a little deeper and the concerns start to surface. Cory Trice Jr. hasn’t exactly been Mr. Reliable, and James Pierre has struggled when asked to play meaningful defensive snaps. It’s pretty clear the Steelers could use more depth at the position as they prepare for the grind of an NFL season.
Should Pittsburgh Reunite with C.J. Henderson?
While the draft remains the most obvious path to add cornerback talent, there’s an intriguing familiar face still available — C.J. Henderson. The former top-10 pick joined the Steelers last September after failing to stick with Houston, initially landing on Pittsburgh’s practice squad before eventually getting promoted to the active roster.
Here’s the thing: Henderson didn’t play a single snap for the Steelers last season.
You’re probably thinking, “Why bring back a guy they didn’t even put on the field?” That’s fair. But Henderson continues to get chances around the league for good reason — his raw athletic ability remains tantalizing. The 9th overall pick in the 2020 draft has never lived up to that lofty status, but his length and athleticism are traits worth trying to develop, especially for a team that doesn’t need him to start right away.
What makes Henderson particularly interesting for Pittsburgh is that they’ve already addressed their starting positions. The Steelers don’t need him to be a day-one contributor — they just need insurance in case injuries hit. Adding Henderson to compete with Trice, Bishop, and Pierre would provide valuable depth and competition in the room.
Reconnecting with Henderson isn’t guaranteed to happen. The draft likely offers better options to bolster cornerback depth, but draft day is always unpredictable. There’s no certainty that a defensive back the Steelers covet will be available when they’re on the clock. If the draft doesn’t break their way in late April, Henderson checks all the boxes as a fallback plan that Pittsburgh should feel comfortable pursuing — a low-risk move that could potentially unlock the talent that made him a top-10 selection just four years ago.
