The Steelers may have caught people off guard when they used the 85th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Georgia defensive back Daylen Everette, but the early signs from minicamp and OTAs are starting to explain the move.
Pittsburgh went into the draft with many expecting offense early, yet Everette has already shown enough speed and physical upside to look like a player with a real path to a starting job down the road. The Steelers clearly think the rookie cornerback can grow into something much bigger than a third-round flier.
That belief comes with a notable NFL template attached to it. The closest comparison the Steelers see for Everette is Tennessee Titans cornerback Alontae Taylor, who signed a $60 million deal with $42 million guaranteed in free agency earlier this year.
The fit makes sense on paper. Everette and Taylor share the same general frame at 6'1" and just around 200 pounds, and both bring unusually long reach for players at the position. That length is a big part of what helped Taylor develop into a strong coverage corner, and it’s exactly the kind of trait Pittsburgh believes can translate for Everette.
Taylor also brings the kind of movement skills teams covet in the secondary. He has the speed to match receivers in coverage and the hips to stay connected when the route gets slippery.
His NFL production has been steady, too. Taylor has defended at least 11 passes in each of his four seasons, along with four interceptions and 7.0 sacks.
That is the bar Everette will have to chase. At Georgia, the rookie showed real ability as a boundary corner and had flashes in the slot, but consistency was the issue. There were stretches when his talent jumped off the screen, and others when he lost focus and gave up routes he shouldn’t have.
If that part of his game sharpens, the Steelers believe the rest could come quickly. Patrick Graham is known for demanding technical precision, and if Everette cleans up that side of things, the transition to the NFL should get easier.
The upside is clear: a defender with the tools to make plays on the outside or inside, provided he can stay locked in and turn those traits into production on the ball.
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