Steelers' New Cornerback Desmond King May Play A Similar Role To That Of Cam Sutton In 2023

The Pittsburgh Steelers' addition of Desmond King II to their defense will help solidly its secondary as one of the most well-rounded units in the entire NFL. King is only the latest new face to the defensive back room as the team also brought in Patrick Peterson, Keanu Neal, and Joey Porter Jr. during the 2023 offseason. With a pass rush spearheaded by T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, the Steelers defense seems to have all the necessary pieces to be elite this upcoming season. 

King is perhaps the final puzzle piece to a Steelers defense that is absolutely chalked full of talent. Furthermore, his ability to play both outside the numbers, as well as in the slot, will pay huge dividends as the team will be without Cam Sutton during the 2023 season after he inked a deal with the Detroit Lions. Interestingly enough, the similarities between these two players goes much deeper than playing the same position, as both were selected in the 2017 NFL Draft. 

The Steelers opted to go with Sutton over King by selecting the University of Tennessee cornerback in the third-round. King, who enjoyed an absolutely stellar career at the University of Iowa, was ultimately selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in round five. Fast forward six years, and now the Steelers were able to circle back and bring in a player who will immediately upgrade the level of play from the slot cornerback position. 

What Will King's Role Be For The Steelers In 2023? 

King is certainly capable of playing at outside cornerback, but he will likely find a home in the slot for the Steelers defense in 2023. With him joining this late into the offseason, he may not receive much playing time at first, but will likely cement himself as a meaningful contributor at some point this season. The former fifth-round pick certainly checks off all the boxes in terms of what the Steelers look for at slot cornerback. During his six seasons in the NFL, which includes a 2018 All-Pro selection with the Chargers, he has compiled nine interceptions, eight-and-a-half sacks, and 27 tackles for loss. His ability to cover receivers effectively in space, combined with his willingness to make plays at the line of scrimmage, make him an ideal fit in the black and gold defense.