The Pittsburgh Steelers organization has been known for bringing in top talent via the draft/undrafted free agency and rewarding those players once they prove themselves after a few years of successful on-field play. The most recent examples include TJ Watt, Cameron Sutton, Terrell Edmunds and Chris Boswell. With that said, some guys are bound to slip away because of certain cap situations and greater needs on the roster. Back in 2021, the franchise decided not to bring back a key piece on defense because of the financial state of the team and Sutton's expected extension to be less of an expense.
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback, Cameron Sutton stands on the field prior to a 2022 preseason game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh had a decision to make. Should the front office go the conservative route and extend Sutton, or bring back cornerback, Mike Hilton, on a much more expensive deal? Clearly, the team went with the former and Sutton cashed in on a two year, $9 million contract. Hilton ended up with the rival, Cincinnati Bengals and is currently playing in his second season of a four-year, $24 million free agency contract.
As Cincinnati plans to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship for the second straight year, Hilton is proving that he was absolutely worth every penny and the Steelers made a grave mistake by letting him walk away.
Mike Hilton really is that guy. Steelers had a good one, but didn’t want to pay him in free agency. He’s worth every penny.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) January 22, 2023
He was a crucial part of his team's dominant defensive effort versus the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon and the Bengals are now one win away from going to another Super Bowl. He led Cincinnati in tackles with eight and added two QB hits along with a tackle for loss. He laid a huge hit on Josh Allen that many believe should have been ruled a fumble instead of an incomplete pass, but regardless, he made his presence known throughout the game.
Sep 30, 2019; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Mike Hilton (#28) gets the fans into the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field. | Photo Credit: Philip G. Pavely / USA TODAY Sports
Hilton was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as well as spending time on the New England Patriots practice squad during his rookie season in 2016. After that journey, he was in Pittsburgh from the end of the 2016 season to 2020 and made a name for himself, especially in 2020 when he had a career-high three sacks. He was being used brilliantly in the nickel position and added a new element to an already talented defense. Former general manager, Kevin Colbert then made the mistake of letting him walk.
Hilton plays a key role on the Bengals' defense and may be looking at two consecutive Super Bowl appearances. It is turning into one of the more underrated stories in the NFL as the 2016 undrafted free agent is already looking like a bargain at just $6 million per season. This isn't necessarily a knock on Sutton's play as he has been solid for Pittsburgh's defense the last two years, but it's hard to ignore the impact Hilton is having.
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 16: Mike Hilton (#28) of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts after a defensive stop in the fourth quarter during the game against the New England Patriots at Heinz Field on December 16, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. | Photo Credit: Joe Sargent / Getty Images
It comes down to the fact that the Steelers had virtually no cap space and Hilton's first year in Cincinnati led to a $5.3 million cap hit. Sutton's was only $1.7 million in 2021. In theory, $3.6 million more would have been needed to sign Hilton to his exact current deal. Zach Banner carried a cap number of nearly $3 million alone in 2021. Colbert could have made it happen if he understood Hilton's value, but he didn't.
As Sutton heads to free agency once again, Hilton will, most likely, be nice and cozy in Cincinnati for the next two years. He absolutely has the chance to play himself into another contract and it's hard to forget Hilton's 24-yard pick-6 off of Ben Roethlisberger in 2021. He has been a pain in Pittsburgh's side since departing and Colbert's decision not to bring him back is hurting the team years later.
Do you think it was a big mistake to let Hilton walk out of the Steelers building in 2021? Let us know in the comments below!
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