Steelers Nickel Cornerback Competition Down To 2 Clear Players

The Pittsburgh Steelers slot cornerback position was seen as a huge area of weakness heading into the summer. The team signed five-year veteran Chandon Sullivan to replace Arthur Maulet at the position. While Sullivan didn't exactly have a great training camp in Latrobe, he remains the most experienced option for the Steelers. Additionally, he did make a huge play in the team's second preseason win.

Sullivan came up with an incredible interception off Buffalo Bills backup quarterback Matt Barkley. Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin spoke to the media on Monday, and he specifically addressed the battle for that nickel cornerback spot via Brian Batko of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"I think those guys [Sullivan and Elijah Riley] are both making a case that they belong," Austin said via Batko.

Riley is a guy that people seemingly forgot about heading into the summer. The journeyman has played for a few different teams in his three-year NFL career. That has led up to an up-and-down tenure with the Steelers, which included him getting released in August 2022. The team signed him to the practice squad a day later. He spent the duration of the 2022 season going back and forth between the active roster and the practice squad.

Well, he's stepped up in a big way this summer. Just like Sullivan, he was able to snag an interception in that victory over the Bills. It only further cemented his standing on the roster. Based off his performances throughout the summer and into the preseason, Riley should make the 53-man roster with relative ease. Sullivan is still listed as the team's starting nickel cornerback over Riley on the depth chart.

Who will be Steelers' nickel cornerback in 2023?

In his career, Riley has mainly been known as a safety. That's part of the reason as to why he wasn't considered a legitimate competitor for the nickel spot. Austin did make one thing clear: both guys can make the 53-man roster. This means that whoever doesn't win the job can still make the roster. At this point, both guys seem worthy. It will come down to the team's confidence in a guy like James Pierre.

While Pierre has been in Pittsburgh for a few years, he struggled in the preseason opener. Sullivan and Riley do bring some special teams experience to the table as well, as they've combined for 548 snaps in their careers. That's where Pierre has made a name for himself, as he has 667 snaps in three seasons. If he can't provide enough value on the defensive side of the ball though, the Steelers may end up keeping Sullivan and Riley over him.

With the lack of experience on the roster, the team talked about trying veteran Patrick Peterson in the slot this summer. That hasn't exactly happened, as Sullivan and Riley have been battling things out. In fact, Peterson has seen just one snap in the nickel throughout the summer. It sure seems like things are trending toward both journeymen making the 53-man roster, and from there, the team can figure out who is the starter.

Who do you think deserves the starting nickel role in Pittsburgh? Do you think both Sullivan and Riley deserve to make the 53-man roster? Who would you cut from the cornerback room if so? Should the team try Peterson at that position any more?