Despite losing starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for the entire season due to an elbow injury, there was some success to come out of the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ 2019 campaign. While the offense struggled to find its footing, the defense shined under pressure.

Overall, defensive coordinator Keith Butler did a great job coaching his unit. It ranked fifth in the NFL in yardage allowed and seventh in scoring per game. The midseason addition of safety Minkah Fitzpatrick only helped the matter, but the defense played well as a whole.

With starting corners Joe Haden and Steven Nelson under contract for 2020 and beyond, the boundary is set. Third-round rookie Justin Layne is also poised for an increased role. However, Notre Dame CB Troy Pride Jr. could solidify one of the better secondaries in the league.

A player who will participate in this year's Senior Bowl, Pride has truly come into his own over the past two seasons. As a junior in 2018, the 5-11 corner defended 10 passes and recorded a pair of interceptions. He followed that up with another six and one, respectively, in his final season. His peripherals don't jump off the page, but when taking a deeper dive into his profile, things get more interesting.

Possessing blazing speed, Pride thrives in zone coverage. He struggles with bigger, physical receivers — a large reason why playing off coverage suits him best. When the play is in front of him, Pride is dangerous. There isn't a footrace he can't keep himself in, and there aren't many he'll lose. His stop-start ability is good enough to play at the NFL level and should pique the Steelers' interest.

Here's what FanSided's Jeremiah Bogan said when he listed Pride as his ninth-best corner in this year's draft:

“Troy Pride Jr. sits firmly in the Top 10 but seeing him go through the drills at the combine will help answer questions that will have him knocking on the door of the top five at his position and cement his status as a Day two pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.”

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Sure, Pride is far from a perfect player. His size isn't a concern, but his strength is. It holds him back from playing a physical style of football and could be detrimental to his development at the NFL level. Playing around the line of scrimmage and helping in run support are both areas Pride shouldn't be asked to do much of to start his career. While he excels in space, his ball skills have always been a question mark.

Not many prospects check every box, though. Pride should have a 4.3 40-yard-dash speed and can keep up with almost every NFL wideout. You can't teach speed and athleticism, but strength and technique can be refined with a professional training regimen.

With Nelson, Haden and Layne (at the minimum) set to be key contributors in 2020, Pride would be entering a low-pressure situation while he grows. It's a win-win situation for both him and the team. If he's available in the fifth round or later, Pittsburgh should think long and hard about grabbing a steal.