Five minutes after being drafted, Justin Layne already was switching allegiances.
Justin Layne, a Cleveland native and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ second pick of the third round Friday night, was redecorating when he talked with reporters on a conference call moments after being selected.
“We’re taking all the Browns stuff down right now,” Layne said. “We’re ready. I’m ready.”
Layne was one of six cornerbacks to make a top-30 visit to the Steelers in the weeks leading up to the draft.
In Justin Lane, the Steelers got a tall defensive back with the No. 83 overall pick. Layne is 6-foot-2 and a converted wide receiver.
It was the team’s second pick in the third round — they took Toledo receiver Diontae Johnson with the No. 66 overall pick.
Layne is two inches taller than Artie Burns and has three inches on Joe Haden and Steven Nelson.
“You look at some of the receivers being draft, and they are big men,” secondary coach Teryl Austin said. “You have to be able to compete and win some 50-50 balls. You can’t lose all them balls because you are too small. Size, speed and ball skills are important because you’ve got to be able to turn the ball over in this league.”
