The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Cam Sutton in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. If they do not resign him, TJ Watt will be the only player left on the team from that draft. Watt is a generational talent and the face of the franchise but a team that builds through the draft can’t afford to be completely bereft of a draft class just six seasons later. The Steelers want to retain Sutton and Omar Khan has said it is a priority.
Brooke Pryor, who is the reporter assigned by ESPN to cover the Steelers, joined The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller on Wednesday from the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Pryor is a regular on the popular radio program, but she delivered bad news to host Andrew Fillipponi who has been advocating for the return of Sutton and finding a way to draft Peter Skoronski.
“I think there is a greater need at corner,” Pryor began. “They like Cam Sutton. Omar said they like Cam Sutton, but I think Cam could have priced himself out of Pittsburgh. He is going to command a fairly decent salary on the open market which leaves a void in that room.”
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Pittsburgh, thanks to recent poor draft classes, have multiple position groups that need to be augmented. If Sutton departs it would thrust Levi Wallace into a position of leadership in the Steelers’ cornerback room. Wallace is a fine player but losing Sutton would mean they would be starting over at a key position and relying on a rookie to produce like a starter immediately.
“If Joey Porter Jr is there, that is a no-brainer,” Pryor echoed Mel Kiper Jr’s draft board. “If a guy like Peter Skoronski is there, those are the guys who feel the most Steelery to me in that position. Joey Porter Jr for obvious reasons.”
Porter is the darling of ESPN and Mel Kiper Jr and there is a lot to like about him as a player. The draft is unpredictable when it comes to cornerbacks and the top corners could fall just outside of the top ten to the Steelers or there could be a run early and force them to look to other positions to maximize value. If Skoronski and Porter are available it will be a monumental choice for Khan and Sutton's decision in free agency may tip the balance.
Pittsburgh cannot afford to make an Artie Burns-level mistake and grab a corner too early just because everyone else is picking them. This is one of the deepest drafts at the position in recent memory and moving on to another pressing need in the first round does not mean they will not get a quality player with their second-round picks. It does mean they should work very hard to retain Sutton.
“It’s not a matter of fit, it’s a matter of price,” Pryor concluded. “Yes, the Steelers have room and cap space, more than they have had recently. I think, organizationally it makes sense, but it would take somewhat of a change in philosophy to spend the money that I think he is going to command.”
Pryor’s point is that with Watt, Cam Heyward and Minkah Fitzpatrick earning the lion’s share of the defensive cap space, it may be hard to justify paying Sutton enough money to retain him. The Steelers need his versatility, but they just can’t pay him the $11-13 million or more that he will likely command on the open market. He did take a team-friendly deal during his last swipe at free agency, but Pittsburgh can’t count on that this time.
The Steelers also have the specter of the Alex Highsmith conundrum. Highsmith is coming off of a career season with 14.5 sacks and is an ideal running mate for Watt. Productive edge rushers aren’t cheap, and they are not easily replaced. Extensions that are done sooner rather than later don’t cost as much in the long run and it may come down to a decision between Highsmith and Sutton.
Khan will be faced with a tough choice if that is the case, but it is the kind of decision that will mark his tenure and determine his legacy in Pittsburgh.
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