Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — The Steelers had a mostly offensive draft in 2026. But in the third round they went to defense, selecting former Georgia cornerback Daylen Everette.
Bleacher Report listed Everette as the 83rd-best player in the class. Their final mock draft predicted him going 84th overall to the Packers. Pittsburgh selected him one spot later, with the 85th pick.
Everette’s college career is something of an anomaly in the transfer portal era; he spent all four years at the University of Georgia. Everette won a national title with the Bulldogs as a freshman in 2022.
One impressive aspect of Everette’s Georgia career is how he held up against the grind of an SEC schedule. He was an ironman, playing 14 games in each of his first three seasons and 13 games in his final season. With 55 total appearances in four years, he missed just two total games.
Everette is listed second on the depth chart at the RCB spot, behind veteran free-agent signing Jamel Dean. He is working on becoming a versatile DB for the Steelers.
“For the most part I’ve been (on the) outside, but I’ve just been trying to learn every position just because you never know what could happen,” Everette said.
As the top defensive pick of the Steelers’ 2026 draft class, Everette is certainly under a level of expectation. He joins a veteran CB room anchored by Dean, Joey Porter Jr. and Asante Samuel Jr.
Acquired: The Steelers selected Everette with the 85th overall pick in April’s draft. Everette signed his rookie contract in May.
Last year: Everette put together a solid season with the Bulldogs, with eight passes defended and an interception. Georgia won the SEC Championship and reached the College Football Playoff, but their season ended with a loss to Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl.
Everette received 2024 and 2025 All-SEC Third Team honors in the coaches’ poll, as well as 2025 All-SEC First Team honors in the AP poll. He made plays in big games, nabbing an interception in the 2025 SEC Championship game and getting two picks in the 2024 SEC Championship game, winning SEC Championship MVP honors for the latter. He also got a pick in the 2023 Orange Bowl against Florida State.
Last season, Everette was fifth on his team in total tackles.
Everette experienced near-constant success as a collegiate athlete, as Georgia went 51-6 in his time there. The Bulldogs made it to the College Football Playoff in three of Everette’s four seasons.
Everette’s most statistically well-rounded season was 2024, when he secured 45 solo tackles, three pass breakups, a sack, two forced fumbles, and three interceptions.
Everette scored one touchdown as a collegiate, a scoop-and-score against Ole Miss in the 2025 CFP loss.
As measured at the NFL Combine: 6-foot-1, 196 pounds; 4.38 40-yard dash,...
