Ranking Pittsburgh Steelers' Top CB Options in 2015 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a position they are not used to. They are in a state of transition with their defense. While the front seven is staying primarily the same, they no longer have defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, and the secondary will look almost completely different.

While Mike Mitchell is holding down one safety position, Troy Polamalu cannot just be replaced. Shamarko Thomas is being pegged as the starter, but he's a question mark as to what he can do in a full-time starting role. At least the Steelers have Will Allen as a fallback at that position.

Cornerback, however, is a much bigger question mark. Losing Ike Taylor to injury then retirement led the Steelers to use Cortez Allen and Brice McCain opposite William Gay. McCain signed with the Dolphins, and Allen has proven that he is not starting-cornerback material. They wouldn't have been 27th in pass defense if he was.

Suffice to say, since they did not find one during the offseason, the Steelers need to draft a cornerback in the 2015 NFL draft, and with the 22nd overall pick, they should have their selection of nearly any cornerback.

Depending on what it is the Steelers are most looking for in a cornerback, there are five possibilities.

5. Byron Jones, Connecticut

Of the cornerbacks in the draft, Byron Jones may be the most physically gifted. When Mel Kiper calls you an "off-the-charts athlete" (via The New York Times), that's not something that is said lightly, and it's caused Jones to rise up to the late first round in mock drafts.

More importantly, according to his NFL.com draft profile, he's considered a team leader who's willing to play while hurt. Given the Steelers' physical style of play, that's no bad thing.

That being said, Jones' footwork is a work in progress, which makes him a giant question mark in man coverage in the NFL, though he would be a natural in zone coverage given his strengths.

Given the blend of coverage that the Steelers used in recent years—and should be continuing with D-coordinator Keith Butler—Jones would be a work in progress. It's unlikely they would pick him up in the first round, but if he falls to the late second round, then they may like his zone abilities enough to be willing to coach him up.

4. P.J. Williams, Florida State 

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Do not be surprised if the Steelers decide to shore up the front seven with their first-round pick, which they usually do. Should they do that, there's a second-round cornerback who fits what they're looking for in Florida State's P.J. Williams.

Williams does not have blinding speed out of the gate, but he can stay with a player downfield, and he has great instincts in man coverage. Most important is that he is physical, perhaps overly so, and is more than willing to make a big hit, according to his CBSSports.com draft profile.

His lack of speed, however, and his tendency to give up a larger play due to his aggressiveness will be a hindrance at the NFL level. That could mean a move to zone coverage as his primary focus, which may be a problem since he doesn't seem to have the same interest in zone that he does in man.

It's a shame, because he fits the Steelers profile very well. With the right coaching, he could develop into an excellent cornerback. That's why he makes the list despite not having the raw talent of the other four.

3. Trae Waynes, Michigan State

Trae Waynes is likely going to be the first cornerback taken in the draft, and for good reason. He's the best man defender in the draft, and he has the speed to stay with the top players in the NFL, given his 4.31-second 40-yard dash.

He has the makings of a great cornerback in the NFL, and as a result, it's highly unlikely he will fall to the Steelers at No. 22. If he does, is he worth picking up?

While it's hard to doubt his talent, there's a reason he's third on the list. Being likely to draw penalties due to how hands-on he was in college is fixable with coaching, but he doesn't have the raw strength right now. According to CBS Sports' Dane Brugler, he is "too easily pushed around by wide receivers."

Waynes has the mental toughness and the ability to stay with receivers, but the issues above—combined with his zone game being a question mark moving forward—mean that there are better options for Pittsburgh.

2. Marcus Peters, Washington

Marcus Peters is essentially a superior version of Williams. He is the most aggressive cornerback in the draft, tough in press-man coverage and has the prototypical size and speed to match.

The situation regarding his dismissal from Washington is well-known in draft circles; he admitted he should have been dismissed, as reported by Tom Pelissero of USA Today. If he is in a good coaching situation, then those issues ideally should not resurface.

However, his off-field weaknesses are not unlike his on-field ones. He can have mental mistakes more often than not due to overaggression, which leads to impatience and inconsistency in his playing ability.

The big question is whether or not the Steelers believe he can be coached into a quality starting cornerback, and that involves his on-field abilities.

Whether or not he clashes with the coaches in Pittsburgh is something I don't see happening if drafted, but looking past that doesn't automatically rocket him to the top of the Steelers' draft board.

1. Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

One cornerback in this draft has showcased the ability to be a force in both man and zone coverage more than any other CB. It's only natural that this cornerback tops the list for the Steelers.

Kevin Johnson can quickly turn to make plays while running downfield, with great route-running ability as well. His biggest strength is baiting the quarterback, and he can move from man to zone quickly if the situation calls for it.

While he is willing to help out in run defense and plays tougher than he looks, he does not have the raw strength to be a large factor in that regard. It's not as big of a deal in today's NFL as it might have been in prior years, but he will want to build more strength to compete with NFL wide receivers.

There's a reason CBSSports.com's Will Brinson and Rob Rang—not to mention many others—have the Steelers taking Johnson; it simply fits too well. The way he plays the game is the same way that LeBeau has used his cornerbacks, and it's presumably the same way Butler will as well.

Johnson would be a Day 1 starter and a cornerback whom the Steelers will keep around for a long time should they make the smart choice and draft him.