(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
There are some concerns about the Steelers cornerback depth heading into the 2021 season
with the losses of Mike Hilton and Steven Nelson this offseason, especially when it comes to who will fill Hilton's slot cornerback role.
The common belief is that Cam Sutton, who will replace Nelson at the outside cornerback position, will kick back inside to the slot when the Steelers go to certain sub-packages and either James Pierre or Justin Layne will play on the outside.
Sutton has been a jack-of-all-trades player in the Steelers secondary since being drafted in the third-round out of Tennessee in 2017, and Joe Haden spoke to the media today about how valuable Sutton is to the defense when it comes to his versatility.
"It's a different ball game on the inside," Haden said about Sutton playing in the slot via Teresa Varley of Steelers.com. "Those little slot receivers, the route trees are totally different. Just timing and stuff like that. Cam Sutton, that is what he does. He is a great inside and outside guy. I am more of an outside guy. I don't want no parts of the slot. Cam is able to play both at such a high level. He is able to go inside and outside. Cam is a Swiss Army knife. He can do a little bit of everything.
"Cam Sutton is going to be able to thrive on the outside corner. He is a great nickel and outside guy. He is going to be a solid corner starter in the league."
Sutton re-signed with the Steelers on a two-year, $9 million deal this offseason that included three voidable years. In 2020, Sutton started six games and recorded eight passes defended, one interception, one fumble recovery, and led the team in force fumbles with three.