Over the next few months, Pittsburgh Steelers general manager, Omar Khan will be a busy man. It’s a crucial offseason in trying to get the black and gold back to the promise land. Cam Sutton sits atop the priority list, as he could leave in free agency if the money becomes too much. That’s a realistic possibility at this point, and Khan needs to have a backup plan if that does happen.
If Sutton is brought back, cornerback doesn’t become as big of a priority. According to Ray Fittipaldo just last week, bringing back the veteran cornerback may not actually stop the front office from selecting a CB with their 17th overall pick. Regardless, ESPN’s Todd McShay released his first mock draft just under two weeks ago. He sees someone in the 2023 NFL Draft as the perfect potential replacement for Sutton if he leaves:
"If the Steelers can't retain Cameron Sutton, then [Christian] Gonzalez makes a lot of sense as a replacement. He has 6-foot-2 size, good length, some serious wheels and high-end ball skills, as evidenced by four interceptions in 2022. And if Pittsburgh does re-sign Sutton or add another cornerback via free agency, Gonzalez has versatility to move around the secondary and line up over the slot."
The question with Christian Gonzalez is whether or not he will last until the Steelers' 17th pick. If he does, the University of Oregon corner will certainly be considered it seems. Beyond him, Joey Porter Jr. of Penn State University has been heavily connected to the black and gold. Of course, his father played eight seasons in Pittsburgh, which included three Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl ring. The family ties already makes for a natural connection, so Porter is definitely an option, whether it be with the 17th or 32nd overall pick.
Kelee Ringo of the University of Georgia is another possibility, although seemingly less likely than the other two. Khan could also find Sutton's replacement in free agency. A few weeks ago, it was reported that the team is interested in Baltimore Ravens veteran CB Marcus Peters, and he wouldn't be as expensive. James Bradberry of the Philadelphia Eagles is arguably the top cornerback on the market this offseason, so he will be even more expensive than Sutton. At that point, Khan would likely prefer to just keep the Steelers' six-year corner.
If Sutton leaves in free agency, who should the team sign or draft to replace him? Do you prefer Gonzalez or Porter in the 2023 NFL Draft? Do you agree with McShay saying the Oregon CB would be the perfect Sutton replacement?
More must-reads: