The Pittsburgh Steelers and General Manager Omar Khan knew that signing Cameron Sutton to a one-year contract would likely end up having consequences. The decision was made by the league to hand down an eight-game suspension due to Sutton violating the Personal Conduct Policy. While it still was a smart financial decision to bring in Sutton at the league minimum, he won't be utilized until the final nine games of the year. This reality immediately caused concern and raised questions about the available options on the free agent market that could be a good fit in the Steel City.
The first two names that will quickly come to mind for fans and analysts will be Patrick Peterson and Chandon Sullivan. The two defenders were with the Steelers in 2023. Peterson is a future Hall of Fame candidate while Sullivan would bring a good amount of experience back into the locker room while also being familiar with the defensive scheme.
If Khan elects to go in a different direction, despite the team's tendency to reunite with players it knows, there are options out there that could provide depth and versatility on defense. It starts with a big name still waiting to sign a contract with an organization for 2024.
1.) Xavien Howard
Xavien Howard signed a five-year, $90 million contract with the Miami Dolphins in 2022, but he was released following the 2023 campaign. Despite his age (31), Howard is preparing to enter his ninth professional season. His pedigree with four Pro Bowl appearances and an All-Pro selection are enough to make him an attractive candidate.
The veteran is likely waiting for an injury to occur to take advantage of a starting opportunity, but the suspension of Sutton might be enough to pick up the phone if Khan and the Steelers decide to call. Another possible setback the Steelers face, as well as any other teams looking to sign Howard however, is his current pending off-the-field allegations.
2.) Stephon Gilmore
A name that will come up a lot in talks amongst fans in Pittsburgh will be Stephon Gilmore. The former first-round pick (2012) is 33 years of age and it would be extremely uncharacteristic for the franchise to make a move to sign him, but nothing has ever been certain with Khan running the show. Gilmore has played for four different teams over the same amount of years and will likely sign a one-year deal whenever he gets his best offer.
The experience from Gilmore would be a valuable asset to have in the Steelers' locker room. He's coming off of a 2023 season with the Dallas Cowboys in which he started all 17 games and hauled in two interceptions.
3.) Eli Apple
If Pittsburgh brings in a corner from the Dolphins and his last name isn't Howard, Eli Apple is a name to keep an eye on. He is another experienced veteran, but Apple has struggled with injuries throughout his career. He only started four games for Miami in 2023, but was able to log one interception. The plus side is that he is on the right side of 30, and will turn 29 right before the season begins.
A big positive with Apple is his experience within the division. He played for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021 and 2022, which provided him with plenty of playoff experience. He is the only one on this list who has been on the field for difficult AFC North battles.
4.) Steelers Could Choose Low-Key Signing To Add Cornerback Depth
A name many fans might not have heard of is Fabian Moreau. The 31-year-old veteran has a track record for providing cornerback depth on rosters. Most recently, he was with the Denver Broncos and was drafted back in 2017 in the third round by the then-Washington Redskins. He played in 16 games for Denver in 2023 and had seven pass defended, as well as one interception.
Moreau tied his for his second-most starts in a season with 11 and was moved around for the Broncos. He could be a potential fill-in until Sutton is officially back from his suspension.
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