Feb 19, 2015 4 min read

INDIANAPOLIS – With three of the top four cornerbacks who finished last season for the Steelers heading into free agency next month, it would stand to figure they will keep a close eye on that position this weekend at the NFL Draft Combine.

Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said this year’s rookie cornerback group is a good one, but Pittsburgh also has a wild card at the position in veteran Cortez Allen.

Allen was signed to a five-year, $26-million contract extension one day before the start of the regular season last year but was benched by mid-October. Later, when there was a possibility of his return to the lineup, Allen suffered a season-ending broken thumb.

“We’re confident that he’s going to have that opportunity to bounce back,” Colbert said Wednesday on the opening day of the combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. “Part of his issue was health at the end, but part of it was confidence. I think the change in the rules and the emphasis on the illegal contacts and defensive holds – I forget how many he had in the preseason, but he had a high number. That shook his confidence and he didn’t come out of it.”

Ike Taylor and Brice McCain each can become unrestricted free agents March 10. Antwon Blake, who saw extensive playing time at nickel cornerback, will be a restricted free agent.

The Steelers will likely tender an offer to Blake but need to add cornerbacks to go with Allen and incumbent starter William Gay.

Since Colbert joined the Steelers in 2000 they have not used many premium draft picks on cornerbacks. They took Ricardo Colclough and Bryant McFadden in the second round in 2004 and 2005, respectively. But the Steelers haven’t selected a cornerback in the first round since Chad Scott in 1997.

That could change this year.

“I think the group looks like it’s going to be good,” Colbert said. “There are NFL-caliber players who are going to be available, probably at least through five rounds. Not everyone’s going to be 6-1 and run a 4.3 (40-yard dash), but not everybody in the NFL is of that stature. If you’re looking in that area and you have a couple of spots you might want to fill, you better be open to the fact that there are guys available who can help your team.”

But counting on a rookie, even a first-round pick, to start is risky. The Steelers are more hopeful they can help Allen recover.

“There was a point in Ike Taylor’s career when he was benched. He fought through it and ended up having a really good career,” Colbert said. “We’re confident that Cortez has that ability. He’s certainly going to have that opportunity.

“I think confidence comes from success. I’m not a coach, but I’m sure the coaches will point out what he did good, what he didn’t do good. What can we do to improve to get back to you were when you were a solid player.”

If that doesn’t work, the fear of losing your job can be motivation. Though Allen signed his contract extension last year, he will count $6.9 million against this year’s salary cap.

By releasing Allen between now and June 1, the Steelers would save just under $1.6 million in salary cap space. After June 1, that total would climb to $5.6 million, with $4 million carrying over to the team’s 2016 salary cap.

If the Steelers add cornerbacks in the draft or free agency and don’t believe Allen is making progress, then they could release him.

“I think when you’ve got someone breathing down your neck who can take your job, that can only make you better,” Colbert said. “We’ll start the process of that with the draft.”

Kickers, punters, long snappers, tight ends and offensive linemen were the first group to work out at Lucas Oil Stadium Wednesday. Today, wide receivers, quarterbacks and running backs will work out. … Canon-McMillan High School graduate and Penn State linebacker Mike Hull will arrive in Indianapolis today and work out Friday. … Colbert said the Steelers have had talks with outside linebacker Jason Worilds, who is an impending free agent, but there is nothing imminent in terms of a new contract.