The Steelers lost Steven Nelson and Mike Hilton during free agency, but the decision to keep Cameron Sutton brought back the team's versatile cornerback to help fill either role.
Dale Lolley's written about Sutton's versatility and growth on the Steelers roster in Friday Insider, but there's also plenty of tape on how he's filled in for the secondary in his four years with the team. Even as a rookie, Sutton was called in to replace Joe Haden to cover A.J. Green in primetime and limited him to just one catch for 27 yards in a half of football in 2017. Since then he's lined up just about everywhere in the secondary.
"Between shifts, changes, motions and injuries," Sutton said Wednesday after Steelers OTAs at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. "Guys have to be able to play different roles. That's not something outside of our scheme. We have to know what other guys around us are doing. That's what we preach; be versatile. Be able to compete in different spots and take it as it is. I don't concern myself with who's the starter or working inside, I just come here each and everyday with my head down and let the chips fall where they may."
Sutton has been an important depth piece for the secondary replacing cornerbacks on the outside and in the slot. He's made eight starts, playing 1,240 snaps in his career with 903 of them in coverage. During that time he's allowed 80 completions on 126 targets for 939 yards and six touchdowns while recording 11 pass breakups and three interceptions.
"As far as health and a mental aspect, I feel better than I ever felt before," Sutton said. "My body is feeling well. Obviously coming off a year with more snaps and opportunities than before, that was a stepping stone to build off. I have the overall excitement to be around guys flying around and hearing guys talking football again. But going into the year, I'm coming for everything. That's the grit in me, the grit in the organization and the hunger to come out and bring back a bowl to the city of Pittsburgh."
Part of what was thought to be a big part of why Sutton returned to the Steelers instead of exploring free agency was as a promise for more snaps playing outside cornerback. But according to Sutton, that's not something he's thinking about.
"My thought was to return to the organization that believed in me," Sutton said of his signing with the Steelers. "I'm going to do whatever I need to do. I get a lot of questions on playing outside or inside, but I don't have that specific yet. That's not saying I favor either spot, but obviously I've been working outside lately. But that doesn't stop me from coming for everything. Regardless if I'm playing there or not, I'm going to play a position until they don't need me at that position. I'm not going to dumb down my role just because guys we lost in free agency. That's just more opportunity for me to step up, expand and embrace whatever is my role."
Now, with Nelson and Hilton gone, the Steelers are going to lean on both Haden and Sutton to set the tone for younger cornerbacks to step up in 2021. Between James Pierre, Justin Layne, or rookies Shakur Brown, Tre Norwood or Mark Gilbert, the team is going to need more snaps from some player who doesn't have a ton on his resume. That means whoever does step up is going to experience trial by fire this season, and they'll need veteran guidance to deal with those ups and downs.
"Everyone's not always a leader coming into it," Sutton said. "You have to know how to follow too. I've just been sharpening my tools since day one. That's been my approach doing that and being around people that influence what you want to do. The leadership role is more for me now because I'm a more experienced guy in the room, but leadership qualities are just about your approach each and every day. They've seen me out there."
If anyone in the cornerback room has learned how to adjust to different roles on the fly, it's Sutton. According to PFF, last year alone he lined up 276 times in the slot and 206 times out wide. Even though he sees himself stepping up as a leader, he still expects the new faces to adapt and overcome adjusting to the NFL as he did.
"We might pick up guys along the way who played big games for us," Sutton continued. "But you can't just expect a drop-off for new guys. That's where it comes back to the leadership role to get everybody on the same page. It's not just wanting more for yourself, but wanting more for those around you. That's how you bring everyone together for one common goal."