The 2026 NFL Draft is just under a month away from kicking off in Pittsburgh. For fans of the Black and Gold, all eyes will be on who the Steelers will select on Day 1. Pittsburgh currently holds the 21st overall pick, and it seems like the team could go in any number of directions after filling many needs during free agency.
One option for that top pick could be San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson. The young corner shared on a podcast with ESPN’s Kevin Clark that he not only grew up a Steelers
fan, but also idolized former Steelers corner, Ike Taylor.
“I grew up a Steelers fan, so I’m definitely a little biased here, but like a guy like Ike Taylor, for sure.”
When asked what about Taylor’s game he admired most, Johnson showed he had a good understanding of how Taylor made a name for himself in the NFL.
“He wasn’t the biggest, he wasn’t the fastest, he couldn’t catch the best — but at the end of the day, he was out there playing, you know, playing his butt off, man. With max effort. You know, being out there for his brothers.”
Taylor played 12 seasons in Pittsburgh and won two Super Bowls with the team. The Steelers hosted Johnson on a top-30 visit last week, where he got the opportunity to see the Lombardi trophies that Taylor played an integral part in bringing home to Pittsburgh.
“Yeah, it was crazy, man, just seeing all the legends on the walls. You could tell it’s definitely a historical building. Obviously, they got the trophy room with all six in there. Like that was crazy to see in person, just seeing that Lombardi behind the glass. But, yeah, overall, it was a great visit just seeing like, you know, legends on there, like Mean Joe Green, like guys like that like was crazy.”
The Steelers have already had Johnson come to the facilities for a pre-draft visit, another historical indicator that he could be on Pittsburgh’s shortlist of players to draft in the first round.
Johnson ran a 4.43 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine just a few weeks ago, only boosting his stock that has been steadily rising throughout the pre-draft process. Johnson also put on a great week of practice at the Senior Bowl in January, showcasing his man coverage abilities and ball skills that vaulted him into early-round projections. The defensive back also notched four interceptions this past season. It certainly seems that there is a mutual interest between the Steelers and Johnson, and he is not out of the question for a night one selection.
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