The Steelers' salary cap situation headed into the 2021 season is tight, and several hard decisions loom for Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin to trim bigger contracts and pick among 19 unrestricted free agents for players to keep.
But one decision must be easy, even a foregone conclusion:
Sign Cameron Sutton.
Sutton was more than just a slot cornerback for the Steelers in 2020, his 548 defensive snaps were the 10th-most on the team and fifth among defensive backs behind Joe Haden, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Terrell Edmunds and Steven Nelson.
His 186 snaps on special teams also were 10th-most for the Steelers. Everywhere Sutton lined up, he made himself useful. Sutton lined up at slot cornerback, outside cornerback and played plenty of zone to help against the run and support in underneath coverage.
The obvious competition for the Steelers' cap space in this free agency period for Sutton is Mike Hilton, whose three interceptions and three sacks were was second and fifth, respectively, on the team.
But where Sutton gains a clear advantage over Hilton is his coverage skills. Hilton's at his best when assisting the run and using his instincts to sniff out plays inside the box or dropping back zone coverage. Sutton's abilities in man coverage outrank Hilton's, and he's more than solid enough in those areas to be the better option to keep.
Sutton was targeted 59 times this season, allowing 37 receptions for 416 yards, two touchdowns, and recording one interceptions with six passes broken up. Across the 17 games played, that's an average of 2.2 catches and 24.5 yards per game with a completion percentage of 62.7.
Hilton was targeted 50 times, allowing 35 receptions, 410 yards, and two touchdowns, with averages of 3.8 catches and 31.5 yards per game with a completion percentage of 70 percent over 13 games.
Where Sutton is better than Hilton is in coverage using different techniques to neutralize receivers. Here he's lined up against Jarvis Landry outside and sticks with him even while Landry puts on a good move to get inside leverage. Even when Landry is in front of Sutton, Sutton quickly glues himself to Landry's back and cleanly attacks the ball to break up the pass:
That's a team's top receiver being shut down in man coverage.
Hilton's instincts in the box are exciting to watch and a good asset, but having this kind of coverage that can apply on routes to the inside and outside parts of the field helps a lot more in today's passing NFL.
Sutton has pretty good instincts too, even when he's playing backed off zone coverage. Watch how he goes from press coverage to backing off right before the snap on this play, but still has the quickness and recognition to break on the short hitch route and break up the pass:
Sutton is good at attacking the ball while lining up in different spots.
That's not to say he doesn't get beat on occasion, as sometimes he can commit too much to his fundamentals in man coverage and not attack the ball. Watch how he's working single man coverage against Cam Sims and you notice how when the ball is in the air, Sutton commits to getting himself between Sims and his quarterback Alex Smith.
That's part of the textbook when playing in man coverage. You don't see the ball, and the quarterback has to throw either over your head without overthrowing it to the sidelines. Smith throws a perfect pass over Sutton once he commits to taking away Sims' inside shoulder:
In time, Sutton will learn from those moments and develop better ball skills to adjust on similar plays.
He's certainly done that when it comes to tackling. Sutton went from just 16 tackles and no forced fumbles in 2019 to 30 tackles and leading the Steelers with three forced fumbles in 2020. He also only missed nine tackles, compared to Hilton, who missed 17, the most on the team in 2020.
Sutton's learned to be aggressive while sticking to his fundamentals and doing his job in the secondary. Watch how he rips the ball out of Tee Higgins' hands as he fights through every second of the tackle until the play is over:
Not even T.J. Watt had as many forced fumbles this season.
Sutton also can be used in the box as a blitzing cornerback who helps underneath as an extra attacker against the run and collapsing the pocket. He wasn't asked to do it too much, but watch how he attacks Josh Allen on this throw.
Sutton's quick burst around the edge attack's Allen's back shoulder in his pursuit, forcing Allen to either move up in the pocket into the Steelers' defensive line, or throw the ball. When Allen throws it, Sutton is swiping down on his throwing arm to break up the pass before it even starts:
That's versatile.
In the Steelers' perfect world they would keep both Hilton and Sutton for the future, as both are good slot cornerbacks and bring good traits to an aggressive defense. But the reality is the Steelers have tough decisions ahead with their tight salary cap.
Sutton's versatility and the lack of experienced depth behind Haden and Nelson on the roster should make the decision easy for the Steelers to keep him. Losing him would mean either an unproven cornerback or Justin Layne would be the first cornerback up to replace Haden or Nelson should either get hurt in 2021.
