The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a stellar 2024 offseason, which included a new offensive coordinator, a completely rebuilt quarterback room, and plenty of investment in the offensive trenches. One area the team had yet to address, though, was the slot cornerback position to team with Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson. Pittsburgh took a step towards filling that spot when they signed Cam Sutton to the veteran minimum, despite the potential fallout both on and off the field.
Sutton had spent six seasons with the Steelers before signing a three-year, $33 million free agent deal with the Detroit Lions following the 2022 campaign. After a subpar 2023 season in Detroit and Sutton's subsequent arrest warrant in Florida, the Lions released the veteran cornerback in March of 2024. On Friday, Mark Kaboly joined The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller on 93.7 The Fan and had some insight into Pittsburgh's thought process prior to the reunion with Sutton, as well as the plan going forward.
"I mean, you'd be shocked at the process they do go through with their own internal security people to be able to look beyond what you see on affidavits and police reports... We don't know this right now, but I would assume that the Steelers have some connections in the league, you know? The owner's been around for a while. I'm sure they get a little whisper in their ear on what the potential punishment would be, and if it's for a heck of a lot of games or a season, obviously, I don't think they would have signed him."
The Steelers have had players before who got into their own respective legal issues off the football field, so the prospect of bringing Sutton back to Pittsburgh, baggage and all, wasn't a kneejerk reaction. There was a clear need on the roster, and if the Steelers had seen anyone already in the facility who would cover the position, that would have been different, but there is a place for Sutton in this defense. However, the 93.7 The Fan team had concerns regarding Sutton's availability if a suspension ends up being handed down, but Kaboly believes the Steelers are prepared for that as well.
"I don't think they're going into this blindly. I think they know what's coming ahead of them if it's one game, two games, no games, or half a season; I think they know what's coming down the road here."
During the 2023 season, Damontae Kazee missed the final three games of the campaign. James Harrison was constantly at odds with the NFL, and Ben Roethlisberger had his scrapes with the league office, so this isn't unfamiliar territory for the Steelers. If Pittsburgh's front office felt comfortable enough to sign Sutton, even if it is the veteran minimum, the assumption must be that there is a good reason for any eventuality.
Steelers Hoping For A Trifecta
While Sutton's legal concerns will loom until some decision is handed down, the Steelers have shifted focus to constructing the best roster to hit the ground running in 2024. No one in the NFL spends more on their defense than the Steelers, and for good reason. With a star-studded group bursting with talent, Pittsburgh's defensive squad is expected to bear the brunt of the season as the offense finds its footing. A large part of that is the secondary coming together as a unit and supporting the dangerous pass rushers.
Porter and Jackson will be manning either side of the field, and now, with Sutton, there is a reliable slot cornerback who can lock down the shifty interior pass catchers. The Steelers are still waiting to see what they have in players like Beanie Bishop Jr. and Cory Trice Jr., so having someone with Sutton's experience and familiarity is a big plus for Pittsburgh. As Arthur Smith gets his offense ready to take on the top-tier teams during the 2024 season, the defense is champing at the bit to prove that the 2023 Wild Card berth was only the beginning.
