Pittsburgh Steelers Have Backup Options If Ike Taylor Leaves Team

The Pittsburgh Steelers secondary has been a weakness of their defensive unit for many years. Outside of Troy Polamalu’s dominance during his career, the team hasn’t had any superb talent in the backfield with him. The best player to man the cornerback position for the black and gold in recent years is Ike Taylor — who I actually consider to be a top 15 cornerback in the league.

Taylor will be a free agent once a new CBA is reached and he has admitted that he will test the free agent waters, so if the Steelers want to keep him they will need to ante up.

If Taylor wants to return to a top tier team, he will resign with the Steelers, but Pittsburgh may not be willing to keep him with the contract he could demand. If they lose their top corner in free agency, they will look to the second tier group of free agent defensive backs for his replacement.

Drayton Florence, who most recently played for the Buffalo Bills, Ravens corner and kick returner Chris Carr and Carlos Rogers of the Redskins are all names that could bring their services to Pittsburgh. The Steelers desperately need someone other than Keenan Lewis, Curtis Brown, Cortez Allen or Crezdon Butler at corner if Taylor leaves.

So while there are options in place for the 6-time Super Bowl champions, they would prefer to keep Taylor. If he bolts for the money, things are about to get interesting in the Steel City.