The Pittsburgh Steelers' top decision-makers reportedly met with free agent cornerback Cameron Sutton as the team looks for ways to improve the secondary. After signing there as a free agent last year, Sutton played for the Detroit Lions in 2023. The former Steelers third-round pick in 2017 is in some potential legal troubles after an arrest warrant in Hillsborough County was issued for him for aggravated battery and was released by the Lions. Sutton turned himself into authorities on Easter Sunday and has since entered into a pretrial domestic violence program.
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Former Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton leaps to snag a football out of the air as the team warms up before a 2022 regular season game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
Sutton spent the first six years of his NFL career in Pittsburgh. He rose from being a special teams player with little defensive play to a starter. Ray Fittipaldo, Steelers insider for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, said during a recent North Shore Drive podcast episode that he could see a reunion on the horizon if things fall the right way for Sutton in his legal proceedings.
"It certainly does make sense when you realize they didn't take a corner until the sixth round with their final pick and there is some discussion about Ryan Watts transitioning to safety because he doesn't have the athleticism or the long speed to play corner in the NFL. I think there's legs to that report. I think the Steelers are going to want to be cautious here. They're going to do their homework because the last thing they want to do is spend money on a guy who's maybe going to be suspended."
Host Christopher Carter highlighted in the introduction to talking about Sutton that the charges against him have been moved from felony to misdemeanor, but that doesn't mean Sutton will avoid punishment. He said the NFL could still do its investigation and decide to suspend him. He's also not free of any punishment by the courts yet.
Fittipaldo said that by late June or early July, there should be more clarity on the situation. He added by that time the NFL likes to have everything wrapped up so that a team that might want to sign a player knows exactly what they're getting into from a disciplinary position.
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Former Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton (#20) participates in practice during training camp in 2022.
Sutton had a career year in a lot of ways for Pittsburgh in 2022 before the Lions awarded him with a three-year, $33-million deal. He had three interceptions and 15 passes defended, which were both career-bests. In coverage, Sutton was stingy. He allowed a completion percentage of 47.8% on 73 targets. He struggled to uphold those numbers in his first and only season with the Lions in 2023. Sutton turned 29 in February.
Steelers Still On The Look Out For More Cornerback Help
Pittsburgh currently doesn't have a slot corner on its roster. Chandon Sullivan filled the role in 2023 and remains a free agent. Patrick Peterson was the team's replacement for Sutton in 2023 and is still on the open market as well. Even though Peterson's days as a man-to-man shutdown cornerback are behind him, he could be useful as a mentor to the young group and still be effective in a lesser role.
%202023%20Camp%20Final%20with%20Logos/2L9A8407-544x306.jpg "Steelers Patrick Peterson")
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Steelers' former cornerback Patrick Peterson (#20) stands on the field during the annual Friday Night Lights practice in Latrobe, PA.
Joey Porter Jr. is the rising star of the cornerback room and will be guaranteed one of the outside starting spots. Donte Jackson, acquired from the Carolina Panthers, seems to have the inside track for the other side. Pittsburgh has some other intriguing options at cornerback too, but none scream that they can start in 2024. Cory Trice Jr. was a seventh-round pick in 2023, but missed his entire rookie season due to injury. Darius Rush was a fifth-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts and landed in Pittsburgh after they plucked him from the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad. Luq Barcoo bounced around with some different NFL organizations after going undrafted in 2020. He landed with the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL for the 2022 season. Pittsburgh gave him a try-out in the 2023 camp and kept him on the practice squad. He was retained on a Reserves/Futures contract for 2024.
Pittsburgh will continue to do their homework before finding the right addition to the cornerback room. There are lots of options on the table for Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin to choose from.
Do you think Pittsburgh should bring back Sutton? Who do you want for the slot corner job? Comment below!
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