Keeping the most versatile member of their secondary, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed cornerback Cameron Sutton to a two-year, $9 million contract Monday afternoon.
NFL Network first reported the signing, which the Tribune-Review has confirmed.
Sutton, a third-round pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, was set to become an unrestricted free agent Wednesday.
The Steelers entered free agency a little less than $6 million to spend under the NFL’s $182.5 million salary cap.
Sutton, 26, made six starts and appeared in all 16 games with the Steelers last season. He had one interception, eight passes defensed, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He also played in a career-high 53% of all defensive snaps while lining up inside in nickel and dime formations and, occasionally, at outside cornerback.
With Joe Haden on the reserve/covid-19 list, Sutton started at outside corner in the Steelers’ wild-card playoff loss to Cleveland.
With Sutton under contract, the Steelers can attempt to bring back nickel corner Mike Hilton, who will become an unrestricted free agent Wednesday. Teams could begin negotiating with free agents Monday in the two-day open tampering period before the new NFL calendar year begins Wednesday at 4 p.m.
