Grading the pick: Steelers select the future of the cornerback position with Daylen Everette in the third round at 85 overall

The Pittsburgh Steelers used the 85th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on CB Daylen Everette. Was it a smart selection, though? We grade the move.

The Pittsburgh Steelers wasted no time making some polarizing picks on day two of the NFL Draft. The selection of Alabama WR Germie Bernard was met with jubilation by many, while the Drew Allar pick may have ruffled some feathers.

Then came Daylen Everette at pick 85, who is sure to be just as polarizing.

Steelers use pick 85 to select Georgia CB, Daylen Everette

I happen to like Everette as a prospect, but there is something to be said about his inability to put everything together during his tenure in Athens. To learn more about the player, here is my scouting report on Everette.

What are the Steelers getting from Daylen Everette?

If you want traits at any position, it's not a bad idea to head to Athens, Georgia, and Daylen Everette is another example of that. Built like a safety at over 6-1 and close to 200 pounds, Everette ran in the 4.3s and jumped nearly 40 inches at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. He produced at a high level for the Bulldogs for three straight seasons, and he's one of the more intriguing prospects in the defensive backfield.

Despite his frame, he's smooth in his hip flips with good long speed, but he struggles to get in and out of brakes cleanly, and he has some mental errors on take. You’re betting on him putting it all together with the proper coaching and technique, but he's got to start trusting his eyes and footwork on the regular.

Final Grade for Daylen Everette: B

Sure, the Steelers signed Jamel Dean, but the long-term answer opposite of Joey Porter Jr. was not on the roster and still might not be, though I think Everette would be a step in the right direction.