It's common knowledge at this point that the Pittsburgh Steelers had, on paper, one of the best 2023 offseasons of any team in the NFL. Both sides of the ball received boosts in critical areas and competition was brought in at virtually every position via free agency and the NFL Draft. Some of the bigger names to come to town were cornerback, Patrick Peterson and wide receiver, Allen Robinson II. It's hard not to include the storyline of Joey Porter Jr. being drafted in the beginning of the second round to come and play for the same franchise his father won a Super Bowl with.
Steelers cornerback, Joey Porter Jr. (#24) participates in drills during the team's offseason minicamp at the UMPC Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, PA. Photo Credit: Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
The potential of the new secondary is certainly exciting for fans as the veteran in Peterson and rookie in Porter Jr. could create a 'Batman and Robin' scenario with the two being partners-in-crime. Time will tell if the duo, along with Levi Wallace, can hold down the fort in the Steelers secondary. One of the players that Pittsburgh let slip away in free agency was cornerback, Cameron Sutton, who received an offer from the Detroit Lions that he simply could not pass up.
It is up for debate if Pittsburgh bringing in Peterson is less impactful than Detroit stealing Sutton away. Sutton, who was drafted by the Steelers in 2017, has gotten better each season and will look to build off of his yearly momentum. He is expected to be a leader on the Lions defense and has been building a ton of chemistry with his new teammates throughout the 2023 offseason.
The cornerback is coming off of, arguably, the best season of his career. He had three interceptions and played in 16 games for the fourth consecutive season. Pittsburgh did not just lose a guy with a lot of talent, but also a reliable contributor who has been healthy for the majority of his time in the NFL. After the season-ending injury to Cory Trice Jr., it's hard not to wish the Steelers made it work financially for Sutton to stay.
Former Steelers defensive back, Cameron Sutton walks on the field at Acrisure Stadium during warmups prior to a 2022 regular season matchup against the New Orleans Saints in Pittsburgh, PA. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Former Steelers Cornerback Cameron Sutton Performing At Lions Training Camp
It appears as if, early on in 2023 training camp, Sutton is turning heads in Detroit. He is already proving that Pittsburgh was wrong to at least not attempt to make a new, financially-reasonable contract work for him. Max DeMara of the SideLion Report was extremely complimentary recently of the defensive back's 2023 camp effort up to this point and, despite Pittsburgh having an exciting cornerback room, it stings a little knowing Sutton is not a part of it.
"Cornerback Cam Sutton, signed away from the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency, was hard to miss. His passion was contagious. He had a penchant being all over the field himself, and showing exuberance when someone else got the job done. Notably, Sutton twice snatched the ball after defensive stops, punting it back in the offense's direction," DeMara wrote.
Sutton has always been a passionate player and it should come as no surprise that he is all over the field in his first offseason with the Lions. The Steelers do have a formidable cornerback room, but Sutton coming back would have been the icing on the cake. A secondary of Peterson, Sutton, Porter Jr. and Wallace would have had the chance to be elite. Peterson and Sutton were both signed on the same day, which tells fans Pittsburgh's front office was focused a lot more on Peterson early on in free agency.
Steelers cornerback, Patrick Peterson sits down to sign his two-year contract with Pittsburgh at the team's facility. | Photo Credit: Steelers.com
The Steelers had the cap flexibility to bring in both corners, but it's clear that the plan was to let Sutton walk, bring in a different veteran (Peterson) while targeting the position in the draft. Sutton will be on a mission to prove that the team made the wrong decision and it seems like he is already showing out in Detroit. Pittsburgh could strongly regret letting him get away, similarly to how it still stings that Mike Hilton went on to play for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Do you wish that the Steelers found a way to bring in Peterson as well as keep Sutton? Let us know in the comments below!
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