Steel City Underground is doing a series where we will break down each instance of double-dipping in the NFL draft during the Mike Tomlin area. By double-dipping we mean drafting two players of the same position. This has happened much more than most may think, which is detailed in the original article. We will be taking a look at the rosters prior to those players being drafted along with whatever happened with these players. 

The Players

The Steelers drafted two cornerbacks in the 2015 NFL Draft: Senquez Golson and Doran Grant.

Golson was seen as primarily a nickel cornerback due to his short stature and feisty attitude. His NFL.com Draft Profile described him as:

Golson has the twitch, ball skills and instincts to be an outstanding cornerback in the NFL. Despite playing so much zone in college, there is no reason to believe he can’t transition to any coverage asked of him. He’s well put-together, but his lack of height could force some teams to view him as a slot-only corner. Golson has Pro Bowl potential.

It’s easy to see why the Steelers fell for Golson. He fits with their scheme and seemingly has the attitude of a Steeler. He was projected to slide into the starting nickel spot and immediately contribute.

Grant wasn’t as highly touted as Golson, but the Steelers love Ohio State players and he seemed like a fit for the Steelers. His NFL.com Draft Profile described him as:

Boundary corner with press responsibilities in college but might lack the necessary size to play outside and athleticism to star in a primarily man-based scheme in the pros. Grant plays the ball well and is smart, with a willingness to tackle. Could be headed to the slot with a more zone-based defense.

Grant’s size, intelligence, and tackling skills made him easily project as William Gay‘s successor. He appeared to be a solid player who could contribute on special teams and maybe start down the road.

The Need

Going into the draft the Steelers had a big need at cornerback. Their projected starters were Cortez Allen, William Gay, and Antwon Blake. Gay was the veteran of the group and the most reliable option among the cornerbacks.

Allen was coming off an injured 2014 season full of disappointment and it was hard to know if he could be relied upon.

Blake was a mystery at this point still; he was a very hot and cold player and struggled with consistency. The Steelers knew they needed to invest in help for the secondary.

The Outcome

The Steelers had brought in eight cornerbacks for pre-draft visits prior to the draft. It was no secret cornerback was a major need for the team.

The Steelers took Bud Dupree in the 1st round of the draft, a player most did not expect to fall all the way to the Steelers. When the 2nd round arrived, there was a run on cornerbacks. The Steelers had pick 56; cornerbacks were taken with picks 42, 47, and 50. Many didn’t expect the Steelers to take Ole Miss cornerback Senquez Golson, but he was their guy.

Two rounds later, the Steelers double-dipped when they took Ohio State cornerback Doran Grant.

The two players were supposed to help fix the Steelers struggling secondary, but that plan hasn’t worked out. Golson has gotten hurt in training camp for two consecutive years. His rookie year, Golson underwent season-ending shoulder surgery and was placed on injured reserve in August. His sophomore year, it was a lisfranc injury. The coaching staff thought Golson would be able to return following foot surgery, but Golson was placed on injured reserve in October of 2016.

Grant on the other hand never really got a chance to prove himself. Fans were shocked when the Steelers cut Grant in September of 2015, but he surprisingly went unclaimed and was placed on the practice squad. Fast forward to 2016 and Grant was again cut in August, but this time he was signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad. Grant bounced from Buffalo to the New York Giants and most recently was signed to a reserve/future contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

This instance of double-dipping hasn’t gone how the organization and fans wanted. Cornerback was a huge need and neither player has been able to contribute to the team. At the time the picks made sense, and the logic is still justifiable, it is simply unfortunate how the events have played out.

Next: Ryan Shazier and Jordan Zumwalt