In what might be the least surprising piece of Pittsburgh Steelers news, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler is reporting the team is likely to decline the fifth-year option on cornerback Artie Burns. Unless something changes, the May 3 deadline will come and go, and Burns will play 2019 as the final year of his contract.
Burns was the Steelers’ first-round pick in 2016 out of the University of Miami. His selection was noteworthy in the sense it had been nearly 20 years since Pittsburgh had spent a first-round pick on a cornerback. The Steelers desperately needed a cornerback, and some felt the selection of Burns was a need pick and something of a reach.
Three seasons later, it is looking like Burns had no business going in the first round. And it seems he is yet another miss by the Steelers in scouting and selecting cornerbacks.
Burns got benched last season when it was obvious his confidence was waning. Now in the 2019 offseason we see Steven Nelson and Justin Layne brought in to try to stabilize the cornerback depth chart.
There is still a serious possibility Burns doesn’t make it to the 2019 season. Pittsburgh has a long list of cornerbacks, and there might not be a spot for Burns if it means taking energy from the other young guys on the roster.
