Pittsburgh Steelers defensive backs coach Carnell Lake was on hand Monday for the University of Florida pro day, and it's little wonder why. The club has a need for draft help at cornerback, and Gainesville is the place to get it.
The Gators boast three draft prospects at the position: Loucheiz Purifoy, Marcus Roberson and Jaylen Watkins. And while the stock arrow has been pointed down for Purifoy and Roberson -- both at one point considered potential first-round picks -- after sluggish 40-yard dash times at the NFL Scouting Combine last month, a plunge down draft boards might be just what the Steelers want if they hope to draft either at a bargain price. Watkins, who played some safety at Florida, went a long way toward erasing doubts about whether he could play corner in the NFL with a 4.41 40-yard dash at the combine. As such, his stock has been pointing up.
Meanwhile, the Steelers haven't addressed the cornerback position in free agency like they have the safety position, making the draft a potentially crucial step in building the club's 2014 secondary.
Unfortunately for Lake, he didn't get to see any of them perform in optimum weather as rain marred the workout and forced much of the action indoors.
"You kind of feel sorry for these guys working out in these conditions," Lake told espn.com.
The Steelers' other draft needs include wide receiver and defensive line. But cornerback might well be the club's primary focus in the draft. NFL Media analyst Charles Davis' latest mock draft has the Steelers taking Michigan State cornerback Darqueze Dennard with the No. 15 overall pick.
So where might Lake be headed next? Other cornerback prospects with pro days this week include Virginia Tech's Kyle Fuller (Wednesday), Missouri's E.J. Gaines (Thursday) and Vanderbilt's Andre Hal (Friday).
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