The Pittsburgh Steelers needed to address the slot cornerback position ahead of the 2024 season. The answer, as it turns out, was a familiar face as Pittsburgh reunited with Cam Sutton. It didn't take Sutton long to be back on the practice field with the team either, joining in on Pittsburgh's second-to-last day of 2024 Organized Team Activities (OTAs). All-Pro defensive standout, Minkah Fitzpatrick was supportive of Sutton in light of the legal issues the former Detroit Lions defender had prior to arriving at OTAs.
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Cornerback Cameron Sutton on the field prior to a 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers preseason game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
After spending the 2022 season with the Lions, Sutton was released after the news of his arrest warrant broke on March 21. Despite this and the multiple news cycles that focused on the process, the Steelers felt comfortable enough with Sutton to finalize the reunion. On Wednesday, as the Steelers winded OTAs down, Fitzpatrick spoke to the media about Sutton and how the team feels about his second chance in the Black and Gold.
"We all have stuff that we go through. I think one of the best things about being in a locker room is that you have 52 other dudes that can help you get through whatever it is. We love Cam; he's a great dude. We all have our flaws and our situations, but we're going to embrace him."
After the 2022 season, Sutton chose to test free agency, resulting in the Lions giving him a three-year, $33 million deal. Fans in Pittsburgh were not particularly pleased with Sutton going to Detroit, and as the 2023 campaign went on, the lack of Sutton became more and more glaring for the Steelers. Patrick Peterson wasn't the stalwart they hoped for when they signed the veteran during the 2023 offseason, bringing even more focus to the Steelers' need to find a slot cornerback.
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Safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick (#39) participates during the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2022 training camp at the team's South Side facility.
Steelers Confident In The Secondary
The trade that sent Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers gave the Steelers a cornerback to start opposite Joey Porter Jr. Donte Jackson will be locking down the other side of the field, while Porter looks to make a leap in his second year. The one issue the team had to solve was the slot position, where they couldn't afford to experience another campaign like 2023. The Steelers do their due diligence before bringing in players, which means Pittsburgh trusts Sutton to hit the ground running.
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Cornerback Donte Jackson getting warmed up for the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2024 OTAs.
Sutton may come to the Steelers with some baggage, but the importance of having the support of the locker room, including people like Fitzpatrick, cannot be overstated. This isn't just a second chance for Sutton; it's Pittsburgh's opportunity to bring stability to their secondary. If Sutton has put his legal struggles behind him and is truly ready to focus on football, the Steelers may be one piece closer to getting back to being Super Bowl contenders again.
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