The Steelers are looking beyond the practice field for help in the secondary.
With their preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers approaching, Pittsburgh has been active in the trade market and checking on defensive back options. According to Zachary Smith of Steelers Now and the Smitten With Sports Substack, the Steelers have been in contact with Green Bay about cornerback Carrington Valentine.
The timing makes sense. Pittsburgh has already been dealing with a wave of camp injuries, including Jalen Ramsey and Joey Porter both opening training camp on the PUP list. Brandin Echols also got banged up in practice last week, adding to the uncertainty at corner.
Valentine, a seventh-round pick by the Packers in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Kentucky, got on the field quickly and has stayed there. He has played in 49 games over three seasons with Green Bay and has two interceptions.
Pittsburgh’s interest isn’t limited to cornerback, either. The Steelers are also said to be interested in Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao.
Pola-Mao, the nephew of Steelers legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu, has been a steady part of the Raiders’ secondary. He has played at least 16 games in each of the last three seasons and did not miss a game in 2024 or 2025. In four NFL seasons, he has three interceptions.
Given Pittsburgh’s thin depth at safety, along with Pola-Mao’s prior connection with defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and his family ties, the Steelers’ interest is easy to understand and worth watching.
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