Steelers 2-a-days: Trusted, versatile veteran Cameron Sutton; Jace Sternberger a tight end option

Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, the Trib will be running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2022 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in mostly-alphabetical order, two per day, between June 11 and July 25. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

TE JACE STERNBERGER

Experience: 18 regular-season games

Contract status: $965,000 cap hit if he makes the active roster in 2022

2022 outlook: Sternberger was taken 75^th overall in the 2019 draft — that’s nine spots below Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson and one above star Washington receiver Terry McLaurin. He was the sixth tight end selected that year, and he even had a touchdown catch during the NFC championship game as a rookie.

But multiple injuries during his first preseason and a suspension in 2021 for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy seemed to contribute to a stalling of Sternberger’s pro career before it ever really got any momentum with the Green Bay Packers. After brief stints with the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Football Team last year, the Steelers signed him to their practice squad in November and he’s stuck with the organization since.

Of the five tight ends in camp, Sternberger has the most difficult path to a 53-man roster spot. Pat Freiermuth is a possible emerging star as the starter, and Zach Gentry the unquestioned No. 2. Kevin Rader showed signs he can be a reliable No. 3, and a sixth-round pick was invested in Connor Heyward.

But Sternberger has the pedigree that he can’t be overlooked and, quite frankly, might be the best option to play a close-to-every-down role should Freiermuth suffer an injury.

Throughout his NFL career, Cameron Sutton has been the man who could do everything for the #Steelers. https://t.co/rObXnV6eUX

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) February 16, 2022

CB CAMERON SUTTON

Experience: 6^th season

Contract status: $5.2 million cap hit in 2022, after which scheduled for unrestricted free agency

2022 outlook: The more things change for Sutton, the more they stay the same regarding his role with the Steelers. The biggest change for Sutton over his tenure with the organization has been salary — he now has the sixth-largest salary-cap hit on the team. Sutton’s stature has also grown, and he’s become an every-down player. (Almost literally — Sutton played 99% of the Steelers’ defensive snaps among the 16 games he played last season).

But what hasn’t changed is that Sutton still lacks a defined position for every snap. That’s a testament to his versatility and football IQ, as well as to his coachability and a tendency to remain content in a role that has him moving around. Even last season, armed with a contract extension and assured status as a starter and player who does not come off the field, Sutton still bounced around between outside cornerback, nickel (slot) cornerback, “in the box” as a hybrid linebacker and even some early-season snaps at deep safety.

In 2022, odds are Sutton again might fill a role as a rock-solid “starter” who plays outside cornerback when the defense is in “base” and moves inside in the nickel (with myriad options for him when the Steelers go dime). The two other “starters” at CB are more adept to play outside (Ahkello Witherspoon and Levi Wallace) but Sutton probably isn’t coming off the field.

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