Jun 7, 2024 5 min read

By Dale Lolley

For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

The Steelers’ signing of cornerback Cam Sutton last week to a one-year deal at the veteran minimum is a low-risk, high-reward move that could be significant for the team, and in particular, All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Sutton, a 2017 third-round draft pick of the Steelers, was a very solid player for the team until leaving in free agency last season for Detroit, which signed him to a three-year, $33-million deal.

But Detroit overpaid Sutton for what he is, a valuable piece, but not a No. 1-caliber cornerback. The Lions, however, asked Sutton to do No. 1-cornerback things last season, and that was simply beyond his skillset.

Then, in the offseason, he was arrested and released on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge. Sutton entered a pretrial diversion program to resolve the charges and underwent a mental health evaluation and entered a domestic violence diversion program.

But the charges allowed the Lions to void his remaining deal and release him.

Sutton could still face some type of discipline from the NFL for his issue. But he immediately steps in and gives the Steelers a very legitimate option as their nickel and dime slot cornerback, a role he is very well suited to play.

Domestic violence is no small matter. But his issue this year was the first time Sutton has run afoul of the law in his time in the NFL. He’ll obviously be on a short leash in terms of having something else happen, but given his past, it’s doubtful that would occur.

Sutton’s addition gives the Steelers three quality NFL corners along with Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson, with Sutton most likely slated to play the slot. Now, anything the Steelers get out of their three young cornerbacks, Corey Trice, Darius Rush and Ryan Watts, is gravy.

With the addition of DeShon Elliott to pair with Fitzpatrick along with Damontae Kazee at safety, the Steelers also have three capable players at that position, as well.

Because they were short on players on the back end of the defense last season, Fitzpatrick was asked to do a lot.

Per Pro Football Focus, Fitzpatrick played 549 defensive snaps in the 10 games in which he played in 2023. Of those, 227 came at deep safety, 149 in the box, 134 in the slot and 22 at outside cornerback.

Outside of his free safety alignment, all of his other percentages of snaps were the most he’s played at any of those other spots since he became a member of the Steelers in 2019.

Getting Sutton back means Fitzpatrick will have to play fewer snaps in the slot. And the addition of Elliott, a true strong safety, he won’t be asked to play in the box as much. He can simply play free safety, where he’s the best player in the league.

With all of his moving around in 2023, Fitzpatrick failed to have a hand in a single turnover. This from a player who played a part in 24 turnovers in his first four seasons with the Steelers.

Now, with Sutton in the fold, Fitzpatrick can get back to doing what he does best – taking the ball away.

“Just let me play ball, that’s it,” Fitzpatrick said. “Minkah ball.”

• Since 2016, Cameron Heyward has missed eight games, two of which came in meaningless regular season finales.

And yet there is a faction of Steelers fans who feel he is “injury prone.”

Six of the games Heyward missed came last season. He’s played in 194 career games and will break the team record of 201 by Donnie Shell for most career games in a Steelers uniform by a defensive player.

If that’s being “injury prone,” we should all be so fortunate.

• Heyward caused a bit of a stir last week when the 35-year-old said he believes he’s still a top-5 player at his position when healthy.

Thing is, he’s not off the mark.

Pro Football Focus released lists of its top 32 players at each position in the past two weeks. It has Heyward ranked fifth at defensive tackle.

• Former Fort Cherry High School and Westminster College running back Brad Tokar is among the 2025 Divisional finalists for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame this year according to the National Football Foundation.

Tokar, who works at Westminster as Charitable Relationship Manager, was named to the first-team Little All-American team in 1990 and was a two-time NAIA All-America player at Westminster in 1988 and 1990. He finished his career with 5,269 career rushing yards, the most in Westminster history, and led the school to two NAIA Division II national championships.

Also among this year’s finalists are former Steelers offensive lineman and Trinity High School football coach Ted Petersen, Steelers Pro Football Hall of Fame guard Alan Faneca, as well as former Steelers Antwaan Randle El, Michael Vick and Flozell Adams.

• Watching Jared Jones and Paul Skenes beat the Dodgers in back-to-back games this week gives you an idea of what the Pirates would be capable of doing in a playoff series – if they could get to the playoffs.

This team is close enough to contention at least for a Wild Card spot that it should be looking to add a bat to the lineup.

A return by Josh Bell at first base anyone?

Bell is reportedly available for trade with the Marlins. He hit 22 homers with 76 RBI in 2023.

Dale Lolley hosts The Drive on Steelers Nation Radio and writes a Sunday column for the Observer-Reporter.