The Pittsburgh Steelers made one thing clear during the 2025 offseason: they were going to do everything in their power to maximize their chances of winning now. That included signing a 41-year-old quarterback and making two uncharacteristic, blockbuster trades. While the team’s focus on the present improved their roster for 2025, some young players are paying the price.

One promising player in particular was completely screwed over by Pittsburgh’s offseason moves—Cory Trice Jr. The talented cornerback and 2023 draft pick was primed for a big role in his third season in 2025, but his hopes of a future starting CB in the NFL quickly disappeared.

The Pittsburgh Steelers never gave Cory Trice Jr. the chance he deserved

In free agency, the Steelers inked veteran and Super Bowl champion Darius Slay to a one-year $10 million contract. They also came to terms on a two-year deal with former New York Jets cornerback Brandin Echols.

Though the Steelers didn’t address the cornerback position until the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft when they took Central Michigan’s Donte Kent. It was the unforeseen blockbuster move of the offseason that buried Trice’s chances of making an impact.

Trice has been at the mercy of injuries that have attempted to derail his career, but just when he was finally healthy, the Steelers robbed him of any chance to make an impact as a starting cornerback this season.

As Steelers training camp kicks off, Trice’s best-case scenario is to attempt to solidify himself as a second-string boundary cornerback. Thankfully, his experience covering the slot and even playing some safety in college could help his chances of sticking around.