Steelers should extend cornerback Cameron Sutton
By Edward Hunt
Mike Hilton might not be the answer at nickelback for the Steelers
The Steelers have rolled with Mike Hilton for the past three or four years with Hilton as their nickel corner. He has done a fine enough job but there are some questions.
The first question is will the Steelers be able to retain him at the end of the season. He is a player who has plenty of experience and that could bode well for Hilton getting an outside contract. The Steelers could want to retain him next offseason but another team might want to pay him more.
The other problem with Hilton is that his play has declined over his career. Hilton’s best year was his rookie year and has declined in performance since then. That downward trajectory might make him overpriced as a free agent.
Joe Haden is aging
Even if Mike Hilton is retained next offseason or extended this offseason, there may still be a need for Sutton to start. Joe Haden is starting to get up there in age and although I think this year he will start the future hangs in the balance.
In 2021, Joe Haden will be 32 and will have seven million in a base salary. That means the Steelers can save seven million under the cap by cutting him.
The Steelers will hope that Haden has a good year and will want to be retained for that amount but if he has an average or bad year, it would be tempting to cut him especially with the cap not expected to go up with the revenue lost from the coronavirus.