Need at CB
The last point bleeds into the next slightly, but it still holds true on its own. It isn’t talked about that heavily, but the Steelers could have a serious need at cornerback this offseason. Both of their slot corners are set to be free agents and they have some serious question marks along the outside. Joe Haden had a good season, but age did seem to catch up to him a bit. He had a couple of mental and physical lapses as a player that ultimately cost the team. The Steelers could save roughly 7 million dollars by releasing him, something they may be forced to do if the cap doesn’t recover well.
As well, Steven Nelson had a down year compared to his 2019 with the Steelers. It wasn’t a train wreck, but he was beaten in coverage far more often than before. Considering his age, he is likely brought back, but another down year could lead to him leaving. Finally, despite his strong play, Hilton seems destined for a big payday. That likely won’t be by the Steelers given the cap constraints.
Given Sutton’s versatility, he would be a major piece in the secondary going forward. If he was brought back, he would more than likely be the slot corner unless the team found a way to retain Hilton as well. He could also shift to the outside if regression continues for the starters there. The Steelers have a sneaky need at corner this offseason, but a lot of that can be alleviated by bringing back the versatile Sutton.