Of the 32 cornerbacks measured at the NFL Combine, only three weighed more than Daylen Everette’s 196 pounds.
Among the cornerbacks who ran the 40-yard dash at the combine, only one had a faster time than Everette (4.38 seconds).
It’s easy to see why the Pittsburgh Steelers were intrigued enough with Everette to draft him with one of their third-round picks last month.
“When you look at the position in terms of what we value, in terms of what the ideal is: height, weight and speed,” defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said soon after the Steelers took Everette at No. 85 overall. “That’s what the league is all about.
“If you got someone that’s big, has some length, can run, and has some size to them, it’s a positive — especially (against AFC North rivals) and then also dealing with the teams that we want to face, if we’re fortunate enough to get to playoff time. The teams that consistently are in the playoffs, you need those physical guys to combat what they do on offense, and also on special teams.”
Steelers defensive coronation Patrick Graham on 3rd round pick Daylen Everett, CB from Georgia pic.twitter.com/p0NUx5M8m9
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) April 25, 2026
The Steelers believe they have that in Everette, who stayed at Georgia for four seasons and was a durable three-year starter (missing just one game from 2023-25) for teams that were SEC finalists and College Football Playoff qualifiers.
In 2024, Everette tied for the Georgia team lead in both interceptions (three) and forced fumbles (two). Perhaps just as impressive is that even as a player whose deployment was most often as an outside cornerback Everette was among the Bulldogs’ leaders in tackles each of the past two seasons.
“There’s just really good demeanor about this guy,” Graham said, “and he has all the attributes to be a real physical presence out there on the perimeter.”
The Steelers, more than most teams, have long coveted size, physicality and tackling skills in their defensive backs in general and cornerbacks in particular. And from what Graham and the other assistants have said publicly so far this spring, sounds as if the full-scale change in coaching staff did nothing to minimize that priority.
Like seventh-round safety Robert Spears-Jennings, Everette fits the mold.
“On the field, I’m just one of those real competitive, physical type of players,” Everette said. “I feel like that’s what I pride myself in is physicality, and that’s what shows up on tape. I think that’s what (Steelers scouts) liked.
“Off the field, I think they see how good a kid I am, and I just always try to do things the right way.”
As a third-round pick, it’s fair to believe the Steelers envision Everette as a future starter on the defense. As a rookie, though, he would seem to have the ideal profile to excel in special teams.
That’s fine because the Steelers have a settled depth chart — and then some — at cornerback. Emerging star Joey Porter Jr. and free-agent signee Jamel Dean starting on the outside with veterans Brandin Echols and Asante Samuel Jr. each a more-than-capable backup there (Echols, also so, in the slot). Jalen Ramey is probably pegged for nickel duties when he’s not lined up at safety.
Everette played almost exclusively as an outside corner in college, but some draft analysts projected him as either a nickel or subpackage safety in the NFL. At the Senior Bowl, Everette was deployed in the slot/nickel, and he said he was grateful for that experience in helping to make him a more well-rounded player.
“You can just tell there’s some grit there about him and a willingness to get better,” Graham said. “I can’t wait to get him to (assistant head coach/secondary Joe Whitt Jr.) and (defensive pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach Jason Simmons) in terms of those guys coaching him up and seeing where it plays out.”