The Steelers have taken pride in their organizational philosophy of building through the draft. And with current home-grown stars such as T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward and Ben Roethlisberger, among others, dotting this roster, it's hard to argue that they've had success building that way over the years.
But secondaries? It doesn't appear that they are acquired quite the same way.
In fact, while being lauded for their success in finding draft gems such as Watt and Heyward at the end of the first round, the Steelers have been properly criticized for their inability to find starting cornerbacks in the draft.
The Steelers feel they can be one of the top secondaries in the NFL this season. And despite the fact that starting secondary isn't home grown, they aren't apologizing for it.
"It’s a great group of guys," said nickel corner Mike Hilton, acquired as an undrafted rookie at the end of the 2016 season after being released by both the Jaguars and Patriots.
"Compared to where we were last year, now that Minkah (Fitzpatrick) has been a whole year in the system, Steve (Nelson) the same, everybody knows what Cam Sutton does for us all around the field, Terrell (Edmunds) is taking jumps. We have a lot of guys that really understand their roles and have elevated their game to help us become one of the better secondaries."
Like most teams, that secondary hasn't been grown in house as much as acquired over the years.
Though the team hasn't made taking corners early in the draft a huge priority -- they've taken two, Chad Scott and Artie Burns, in the first round in the past three decades -- the Steelers also have swung and missed at some players beyond the first round at the cornerback position, as well.
It seems, however, that they are hardly alone. Of the projected starting cornerback tandems this year across the league, just seven teams will start two corners that they both drafted and developed.
And of those seven teams, none finished in the top 5 in the NFL last season in pass defense a year ago, while two who finished in the top 10, the Bears and Cowboys, will be breaking in new starting cornerbacks acquired in this year's draft.
Few teams, it seems, are patient enough to develop players at the position or have enough cap space to keep them around once they do.
The Steelers' starting corners, Nelson and Joe Haden, have both been acquired in free agency after the teams that drafted them felt they could move on without their services.
Nelson, a third-round pick of the Chiefs in 2016, was signed in free agency last year after Kansas City decided to allow him to move on, barely making an attempt to keep him. Nelson allowed a completion percentage of just 50 percent on passes thrown his way last season, a percentage equal to that of Pro Bowl players Tre'Davious White of the Bills and Marshon Lattimore of the Saints and better than that permitted by NFL Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore of the Patriots.
Haden, meanwhile, was surprisingly released by the Browns less than two weeks before the opening 2017 season. The Steelers immediately scooped him up and he's become a mainstay in their lineup. Haden earned his third trip to the Pro Bowl a year ago when he recorded five interceptions.
Add in the play of Hilton in the slot, jack-of-all-trades Sutton and the upside of 2019 third-round draft pick Justin Layne and the Steelers might have their best, deepest group of cornerbacks in decades.
And only two of those -- Sutton and Layne -- were drafted by the Steelers, both in the third round.
"Collectively, we all want to be a step better from last year," Nelson said. "I think the great thing we have on our side is that most of our guys are back this year. That will give us two years to play with each other. We just want to improve from last year. I think last year we did a great job, but there’s always room for improvement. We’re all on the same page with that."
The Steelers ranked third in the NFL in 2019 in pass defense, allowing 194.6 yards per game while finishing second in the league with 20 interceptions.
With Fitzpatrick -- acquired in a trade with the Dolphins -- now having a year with the team under his belt at free safety and strong safety Terrell Edmunds heading into his third season, the cornerbacks have formed a trust with that group. They feel they can be even better this year.
"We have good guys from top to bottom, starters and non-starters. Guys can come in and play," Nelson said. "We have Minkah back there. You saw what he did last year. We have Joe, who is still balling at a very high level. Mike Hilton, Cam Sutton, those guys are very skilled at what they do on the inside. Terrell Edmunds can give you a versatile look as well. We just have a lot of guys who can be out there and make plays."
And it doesn't matter how they got to Pittsburgh, when they were drafted or even if they were drafted.
"It’s just grinding nonstop," said Hilton. "I know that’s cliché. I know that a lot of athletes say it, but it’s really the effort you put in, it really shows in your play and your results."
Hilton was referring to his own journey to the NFL, but he just as easily could have been talking about nearly anyone else in the Steelers' secondary.
Hilton and Haden have both felt the pain of being released. Nelson was the target of a lot of fan angst in Kansas City, despite essentially being a four-year starter there. Because of the players in front of him, Sutton has issues getting onto the field on a full-time basis.
And, when you have good players at a position, it's hard to hold on to them all. That could be an issue for the Steelers after this season. Haden will turn 32 next April. Hilton and Sutton will both be unrestricted free agents at the end of the year.
But for now, they'll just enjoy each other's company and try to be the best group they can be when the Steelers open the regular season Sept. 14 against the Giants at MetLife Stadium.
"That is something that will be handled when the time is present for that," Sutton said of his impending free agency. "Our focus right now is getting ready for Week one. Just going to leave that where it is at. Right now, we are just worried about the New York Giants. I think that is our focus."
MORE STEELERS
• Trimming roster to 53-plus 2
• Tomlin: Steelers stand together
• Growing up Watt
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