Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cam Sutton had his introductory press conference with the Detroit Lions Thursday after signing a three-year deal with the team. He spoke about how he appreciated his time in black and gold and is prepared for the opportunity.
“Obviously, being in Pittsburgh for the foundation of the first six (seasons), you know, that was its era,” Sutton said. “It was a beautiful time. Now, it’s just really just time to step back and see what all works … see where you’re valued, and see where you’re loved.”
While other unspecified teams showed interest, Cam Sutton said that the Lions ultimately showed how much they wanted to add him. Just a few weeks earlier, Steelers general manager Omar Khan said he felt good about bringing Sutton back. A return ended up not being in the cards. His new contract is worth up to $33 million.
“When it was time to really get things going, Detroit, the family, they came strong, man,” Sutton said. “It just made sense, from the top down in the organization … It’s always been a tough-nosed, gritty team. These are styles that I’m a part of. That’s my identity.”
To a team that missed the playoffs last season and hasn’t won a postseason game since 1991, Sutton said he plans on adding the same never-say-die attitude that the Steelers played with down the stretch this past fall, when they gave themselves a chance to make the playoffs after a really rough start.
“At any point, you could’ve laid down and you could’ve gave up on the season and looked forward to the future,” Sutton said. “It’s never about that. It’s about us coming together every opportunity that we have in front of us and making the most of it. They stood on that. They stood on the foundation of that and weathered the storm.”
Sutton played in 84 games for the Steelers, starting 39 of them. He totaled 164 tackles, 38 passes defended, and eight picks. He made 15 starts in 2022 and had career-highs in passes defended (15) and interceptions (3).
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