Steelers' Cameron Sutton quickly goes from young depth to veteran leader of secondary
Soon after he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, defensive back Tre Norwood heard from new veteran teammate Cameron Sutton.
“He kind of extended his arms as a big brother, as a guy who’s been here,” Norwood said last month. “I can’t wait to sit down and pick his brain and get to know more about this defense so I can know the ins and outs.”
Sutton knew Norwood because they train at same facility, Norwood said. But the simple act of veteran leadership by Sutton was emblematic of his rise in tenure and stature in the Steelers defensive backs corps.
No member of the secondary has been with the team longer. And only 12th-year cornerback Joe Haden has been in the league longer than Sutton, who instantly jumped from what could be considered the Steelers’ No. 4 cornerback to their No. 2 this offseason.
“Why would I put (leadership role) on somebody else? I want that role for myself,” Sutton said during a video conference call with media last week. “That’s just getting back to your approach, getting back to what you want for yourself, what you’re willing to put on the line and do for this team and this organization.
“Whatever that may be, I’ve done that over and over the course of this time and now I’m looking to continue to keep expanding and maximizing in the roles and opportunities they’re presenting for me.”
“I’m ready. It’s not something new. It’s not a shock to me… Whatever it entails throughout the year, it’s all about winning,” Cameron Sutton said.#Steelershttps://t.co/T9Xt5eOROq
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) March 31, 2021
Tangibly, Sutton’s new role is an opportunity to serve as a starting outside cornerback in his fifth season. The 26-year-old spent the past two seasons as the dime hybrid who came in only on obvious passing downs and was limited to about 30% of the team’s defensive snaps in that role.
But the early-spring release of veteran Steven Nelson and the departure of slot cornerback Mike Hilton opened up expanded opportunities for Sutton, a 2017 third-round draft pick. Sutton figures to be an every-down player for the first time in his career.
“I’m ready it more than ever,” Sutton said. “As far as health and just a mental aspect, I feel better than I ever felt before. Coming off of a year where you had more snaps, more opportunities, that’s just a stepping stone. Those are things to continue to build off of.”
Sutton played a career-high 41% of the Steelers’ defensive snaps in 2020, filling in for a stretch during the middle of the season for an injured Hilton, starting the finale in place of Haden (rest) in addition to serving in his dime role.
His role remains undefined for the nickel and dime packages. Perhaps, say, Norwood impresses and earns Hilton’s old role, leaving Sutton on the outside in all situations. Or maybe Sutton moves to the slot when one is needed, with Justin Layne or James Pierre subbing in to play on the outside when the Steelers go to five DBs.
It’s also still possible Sutton fills the dime role when that position is called upon, with some combination of other players going outside and into the slot.
Being a starter and every-down player while still manning three positions would be fitting for the evolution of the career of Sutton, whose versatility has been his greatest asset.
Armed with a two-year, $9 million contract and tied for the fifth-longest tenured defensive player on the team, Sutton quickly has gone from an eager youngster to one of the veteran stalwarts of the secondary.
“I’m just pushing into that role, extending the opportunities that I’ve had,” Sutton said. “Hopefully, that continues to lead to everything that I want to be and everything we want it to be for this organization.”
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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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