(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Pro Football Focus released an article today that ranked every team's roster, which included strengths, weaknesses and X factors for every club's starting lineup.
The Steelers' roster was ranked 16th overall and their biggest strength was their pass-rush and their biggest weakness was their offensive line.
When it came to an X factor for the Steelers, PFF listed Cam Sutton, who will take over for Steven Nelson as the starting outside cornerback opposite of Joe Haden this year. Nelson was released as a cap casualty in March and Mike Hilton signed with the Bengals in free agency, so a lot is riding on Sutton in 2021.
"The offseason losses of Steven Nelson and Mike Hilton at cornerback place more pressure on Cameron Sutton to be an integral part of this secondary this season," Ben Linsey of PFF wrote. "Sutton has ranked in the 94th percentile among all cornerbacks since 2019 in coverage grade on a per-snap basis, though much of that grade stems from his work in the slot as the fourth cornerback in dime packages. Suddenly, he's the No. 2 behind Joe Haden and the favorite to start the season on the boundary."
Cornerback Cam Sutton re-signed with the Steelers back in March on a two-year, $9 million, and the fifth-year cornerback is ready for his moment to shine.
"Ready more than ever," Sutton said at OTAs via Mike Prisuta of Steelers.com. "As far as health and just a mental aspect, I feel better than I ever felt before. Coming off of a year where you had more snaps, more opportunities, that's just a stepping stone. Those are things to continue to build off of.
"Going into the year I'm coming for everything, that's just the grit in me. That's just the grit in this organization, in our teammates, just the hunger to bring Super Bowls back to the city of Pittsburgh."