Steelers 2-a-days: Chandon Sullivan a veteran nickel CB, Cory Trice Jr. an intriguing big rookie CB
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Editor’s note: From the end of minicamp through the day the team reports to training camp at Saint Vincent College, the Trib will be running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2023 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in mostly-alphabetical order, (at least) two per day, between June 16 and July 26. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.
CB CHANDON SULLIVAN
Experience: 6th season
Contract status: $1.092 million cap hit on a one-year deal in 2023
2023 outlook: No defensive back in the NFL played more snaps defending the slot last season than Sullivan (per Pro Football Focus). Though the stats generally showed Sullivan toward the middle of the pack of his “nickel” brethren, PFF’s subjective grades were not kind to him. Also, he was part of a secondary for a team that allowed the second-most passing yards (265.6 per game) in the NFL last season. Incidentally, the Steelers signed another free-agent CB from the Vikings, Patrick Peterson.
Sullivan’s signing was agreed to during the draft, likely spurred by unhappiness coming from incumbent Steelers nickel CB Arthur Maulet. Maulet asked for his release, and Sullivan is the most pure “slot CB” to replace him. He’s also the most experienced, with the likes of Duke Dawson among the only other options.
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean Sullivan has a clear path to a starting-caliber role. It’s very possible the Steelers by the end of training camp view their best three cornerbacks to be Peterson, Levi Wallace and Joey Porter Jr. If that’s so, and Peterson proves he can handle slot duties, that leaves Sullivan without a significant role. Though he received a signing bonus of $152,500, Sullivan’s one-year, $2.133 million contract does not make him untouchable.
Still, Sullivan (5-11, 189) has served as the primary nickel CB for a team each of the past three seasons. Each time, those teams (the Green Bay Packers in 2020 and 2021; the Vikings last year) were good enough to make the playoffs. Still just 26 years old (he will turn 27 on Aug. 7), Sullivan enters camp as the man whose starting nickel job is his to lose.
“Really, all my life I’ve had to prove myself,” Steelers rookie cornerback Cory Trice said after the second day of workouts. “It’s one of those things where I have to prove myself again. I don’t mind doing it.” https://t.co/AzJHAG2cUv
— Tribune-Review Sports (@TribSports) May 17, 2023
CB CORY TRICE JR.
Experience: Rookie
Contract status: $771,109 cap hit in 2023, signed through 2026
2023 outlook: Despite being widely projected as a mid-round pick, Trice Jr. fell to the seventh round. At No. 241 overall the Steelers likely felt compelled he was just too good to pass up at that point, even if they’d drafted another cornerback with a similar profile the day before, agreed to terms with a free-agent veteran cornerback that same day and had already added a veteran the month prior.
But while 33-year-old Peterson and second-round rookie Porter Jr. are guaranteed roster spots this season, Trice might have to fight to do so. The Steelers also have returning starter Wallace in addition to returning backup James Pierre and a host of other young and inexperienced players on their roster at cornerback. Trice (6-foot-3, 206 pounds) is the biggest and tallest of the 10 cornerbacks the Steelers are bringing to camp. Like the 6-2, 193-pound Penn State product Porter, Trice’s size and length are assets. Only two of the 16 cornerbacks who did the bench press at the combine had more reps than Trice (17), who had two interceptions and 10 pass-breakups last season as a senior at Purdue. Trice missed most of the 2021 season because of injury.
Trice will have to show special-teams proficiency to make the 53-man roster, but even if he doesn’t he would seem to be a lock for the practice squad as a developmental prospect.
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