3 reasons why Cameron Sutton extension should be top priority for Steelers

The Steelers have a lot of players who are set to hit the market in the 2021 offseason. Here’s why an extension for Cameron Sutton makes the most sense.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot of difficult financial decisions to make next year and not a penny to make them with (at the moment, at least). Because of the pandemic that has kept hundreds of thousands of fans out of stadiums this year, the Steelers are currently projected to be $21.7 million in the hole in 2021, according to Over the Cap.

While it’s hard to imagine Pittsburgh boasting a better roster next year than the one they have right now due to finances, the Steelers can find a way to get back under the cap pretty quickly, and there are several easy cuts they could make to save the cap space. Unfortunately, they have an outrageously high number of quality players set to hit the market next year that includes names like JuJu Smith-Schuster, Bud Dupree, Mike Hilton, Alejandro Villanueva, Matt Feiler, and James Conner.

Here’s why a contract extension for cornerback Cameron Sutton should be a top priority for the Steelers in 2021:

Youth is on his side

Cameron Sutton isn’t the only young player set to hit the market, but this is a quality that certainly doesn’t hurt. While a player like Villanueva no doubt plays a more important position at left tackle, he will be 33 years old at the start of the next season. Likewise, soon-to-be free agents Bud Dupree and Matt Feiler are in their late 20s.

Sutton, on the other hand, is still just 25 years old and no doubt has his best football in front of him. After two terrific years of sample size in 2019 and 2020, there’s no reason to suggest that he won’t continue to get even better.