NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated floated Washington Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil as a potential trade target for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Joe Whitt Jr. , who used to be the Commanders' defensive coordinator, is in his first season as the Steelers' assistant head coach/secondary coach.
"I don't think the Commanders are sellers yet—they're actually still just two games back of the Giants in the NFC East. But they've gotten calls about guys. And one player I've heard that could be available is 2024 second-round corner Mike Sainristil," Breer wrote. "After playing over 80% of the team's defensive snaps in Washington's first two games, he's played less than half every week since. On Sunday against Philadelphia, he played only on special teams."
"Sainristil could have a market with teams that liked him coming out of the draft, and it's worth mentioning that Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald was with him at Michigan, and Jesse Minter was the coach in Ann Arbor who converted him from receiver to defense. Also, ex-Commanders DC Joe Whitt Jr., who had Sainristil the past two years, is now the Steelers' secondary coach."
Mike Sainristil, Michigan Athletics
The Steelers met with the Sainristil before his Michigan pro day in 2024, one of a few teams to do so, according to Tony Pauline . But Sainristil did not end up joining Pittsburgh, getting sniped one spot in front of them by the Washington Commanders.
Former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin , general manager Omar Khan and several other members of the organization were at Sainristil's pro day.
Former Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor and current scout with the team raved about Sainristil after seeing him at his pro day.
"He's everything advertised," Taylor said on the Bleav in Steelers podcast in April 2024. "And the craziest thing about it is, all of them dogs coming out for the draft, they said he was the alpha … Not [J.J.] McCarthy, not the running back. Who the alpha? Mike. For the whole team, what he say go… So he all dog."
Sainristil even thought he would be a Steeler.
"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I was not expecting it to be the Commanders. I thought I was going to the Steelers at 51. But I felt my phone vibrating, I looked down, there was a Virginia number. I'm like, 'Man, who the heck from Virginia's calling me right now?'" Sainristil said .
The Steelers' starter cornerbacks right now are Jamel Dean and Asante Samuel Jr. , but they could use an upgrade in the slot.
Sainristil certainly would be a welcome addition to a Steelers' defense that is soaring right now.
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