ESPN’s: the Pittsburgh Steelers have signed a top star from the Detroit Lions….
Cameron Sutton, a cornerback, played for the Pittsburgh Steelers under Mike Tomlin for the first six years of his career. Tomlin is finally prepared to welcome Sutton back to the Steelers following a brief absence.
This offseason, Pittsburgh signed the cornerback to a one-year contract worth slightly over $1 million. Tomlin and Sutton have a close bond that has developed over time. As minicamp got underway, the head coach stated that Sutton’s return to Pittsburgh was ultimately because to that link. h/t Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk.
“It’s the entirety of our relationship; there are no recent conversations,” Tomlin stated. “I met this man when he was fresh out of school, maybe six or seven years ago, in Knoxville. He’s a really kind man. He is a huge football fan.
Tomlin said, “It’s probably the entirety of our relationship, and I think I probably represent the sentiment of the organization and saying that it’s about the relationship established over a longer period of time and less about specific conversations, particularly of late.”
Sutton is bringing a lot of baggage to Pittsburgh. In April, he was charged with one count of misdemeanor domestic assault and subsequently removed from the Detroit Lions. Sutton is charged with domestic strangulation, a Florida third-degree felony. He might spend up to five years in prison if found guilty.
No team in the league was interested in signing Sutton after he was released; at least not until his legal matters were resolved. But Tomlin reflected on his relationship with the cornerback. The Steelers signed Sutton after doing their “due diligence” as a team. Whether Sutton will receive a jail sentence or a suspension is still up in the air. The Steelers are at a loss for solutions.
However, Mike Tomlin has now made a strong public stand in favor of Sutton. He has embraced his return to the group. Tomlin continues to think Sutton belongs in the NFL as the case progresses. And he’s happy the Steelers gave him that chance.
Sutton was signed by the Steelers to strengthen their secondary in addition to his relationship with Tomlin. The cornerback started all 17 games in his one season with the Lions, racking up 65 tackles, six passes defended, a forced fumble, and an interception.
In Joey Porter Jr., Pittsburgh has a cornerback to develop around. Porter recorded 43 stops, 10 passes defended, and an interception in his first campaign, placing him fifth in the Defensive first of the Year voting. For years to come, he will keep making a difference in the secondary.
However, Pittsburgh’s cornerback situation required some improvement even with Porter. They were rated by ESPN’s Mike Clay as the No. 21 team in the league at that spot following the 2024 NFL Draft. In 2023, they were likewise in the middle of the pack, with the Steelers ranking 16th in passing defense and giving up 227.1 yards per contest.
Although Cameron Sutton won’t instantly make Pittsburgh’s secondary the best in the league, he is still a huge boost to the team. The Lombardi Trophy is the Steelers’ primary goal. We’ll be watching both when he signs and when he plays. Mike Tomlin, on the other hand, believes that Sutton should return to the Steelers and has Sutton’s back.
