One of the best cornerbacks in the draft and the sibling of a well-known NFL player were among the players that the Pittsburgh Steelers met with before the draft on Thursday.
Nate Wiggins from Clemson is a long and lean cornerback, standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 173 pounds, which fits the profile of cornerbacks the Steelers usually like. He is expected to be selected in the latter part of the first round. The Steelers, who have the No. 20 pick, are looking for a cornerback and are likely to pick one early in the draft to complement last year's impressive rookie, Joey Porter Jr.
Wiggins, who was a top performer in the ACC last season, had nine pass breakups and two interceptions (including one for a touchdown) in 10 games.
Nate Wiggins going super saiyan for the chase down & strip
— Anthony Cover 1 (@Pro__Ant) March 30, 2024
Unlike his brother, Christian, Luke McCaffrey is not a running back but a slot receiver who is expected to be picked on the third day of the draft. The 6-2, 198-pound McCaffrey started as a quarterback at Nebraska before moving to Rice for the past three seasons, where he transitioned to a receiver in 2022. Last season, McCaffrey was the primary target for former West Virginia quarterback JT Daniels, making 71 catches for 992 yards and 13 touchdowns.
According to Pro Football Focus, McCaffrey was ranked eighth in the nation for yards per reception from the slot, averaging 14.6 yards. Last month, the Steelers released their slot receiver for the 2023 season, veteran Allen Robinson.
McCaffrey's father, Ed, had a 13-season career as a wide receiver in the NFL.
Can you guess which former #Vikings WR Luke McCaffrey emulates?
*6'2", 200 lb.
*Fearless
*Tape is full of highlight grabs
*Some of the best natural hands in the 2024 class
*Plus route-runner pic.twitter.com/RVRdP5eqtk— Tanner Weber – Purple Post (@Purple_Post) March 31, 2024
Also visiting the Steelers on Thursday was 6-5, 340-pound guard Steven Jones from Oregon. Jones was recognized as the AP and PFF first-team All-Pac 12 guard, and PFF rated him as the second-best pass blocker among guards in the country.
Jones, who had been a starting player for the Ducks for three years and previously played as a tackle, possesses the kind of versatility in playing positions that the Steelers appreciate in their offensive linemen, particularly when selecting late in the draft or as an undrafted free agent — which is the range where Jones is expected to be picked up.
NFL teams are allowed to have 30 official visits from draft prospects, not including local players.
Note: The Steelers released running back Alfonzo Graham, who joined the team last year as an undrafted rookie free agent from Morgan State but sat out the season after injuring his right shoulder during a training camp practice.
