Free agency is off to a hot start, and Pittsburgh Steelers players are taking to social media to voice their opinions. If you're a Yinzer, chances are that at 12:00pm ET on Monday, you typed "Cameron Sutton" into Twitter and held your breath. The results are in, and the cornerback will not be making a return to Pittsburgh. Sutton will be joining the Detroit Lions with a three-year $33 million contract with $22.5 million guaranteed.
Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Cam Sutton during warm-ups against the Buffalo Bills.
Sutton was a consistent and versatile force on the defensive end from 2017-2022. After losing cornerback Joe Haden, Sutton stepped up in a big way this past season and led an otherwise young group in the secondary. His performance was enough to name him as one of the top 2023 free agents in the NFL. His absence will be felt on the defense and in the locker room, and teammates are wishing him well via social media as Sutton packs his bags for Detroit.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett and former DPOY TJ Watt took to Instagram to comment on Sutton's departure:
Kenny Pickett and TJ Watt on Cam Sutton leaving via Instagram. pic.twitter.com/haKg2Own12
— Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) March 13, 2023
Tight end Pat Freiermuth took to Instagram to commend the cornerbacks' professionalism. Receivers Diontae Johnson and George Pickens chimed in as well:
#PittsburghSteelers players comment on Cam Sutton’s departure pic.twitter.com/Xj3vIn20wh
— Maura Carey (@maauurraa) March 14, 2023
Did the Pittsburgh Steelers Already Find Sutton's Replacement?
Source: The #Steelers are signing Pro Bowl CB Patrick Peterson. A surprise! A perennial star headed to a historic franchise to beef up their back end.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2023
The surprise signing of Peterson appeared to be a fan favorite, gaining Instagram stories from Pickett, Freiermuth, Pickens and Johnson as well. The Steelers gave Peterson a two-year $14 million contract with $5.85 million guaranteed. Peterson joins the Steelers after most recently playing two seasons for the Minnesota Vikings. During the 2022 season, he recorded 5 interceptions and 66 combined tackles. While the Steelers will likely still look to take a cornerback off the board early in the draft, Peterson will add experience and talent to the secondary.
AP Photo/Stacy Bengs
An Update On The Edmunds Brothers
It was a big day for Tremaine Edmunds, the brother of Steelers’ safety Terrell Edmunds. Tremaine was one of the biggest headlines to the start of the NFL's legal tampering period. Prior to the Steelers selecting Terrell with the 28th pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills picked Tremaine as the 16th overall pick. Tremaine has had a successful career with the Bills, but it was unlikely that he would return due to the costs of retaining a two-time Pro Bowler and standout defender.
There was heavy speculation regarding where the linebacker would end up, and the black and gold were part of that conversation. In the end, the Chicago Bears had an offer that couldn't be refused. Tremaine went on to sign a record setting four-year, $72 million contract with $50 million guaranteed, an all-time high four-year contract for inside linebackers in the NFL. Terrell congratulated his brother on Instagram and Twitter, calling him the greatest of all-time.
New York Post
It'll be interesting to see how free agency continues to play out in the 412. Check back at SteelerNation.com or @SteeIerNation on Twitter for the latest updates!
#SteelerNation
