An offseason solution to the Steelers cornerback position

The Steelers have some cap trouble and there might be a more unorthodox solution to the problem that could be better for the Steelers in the long run

The Steelers are in cap trouble. According to over the cap, the Steelers are $34,011,664 over the cap and will need to get skinnier with some contracts. Although some of the issues can be solved with restructures and obvious cuts, there are some tough moves that the front office will have to make.

For me, one thing the Black & Gold will need to do is to get more team-friendly contracts but they also need players with experience. I am proposing that the Steelers cut Joe Haden and then sign Cameron Sutton and Mike Hilton. Both of those guys are unrestricted free agents this year.

There are significant cap savings that can be had if the Steelers cut Joe Haden. According to over the cap, the Steelers can save $7million by cutting Joe Haden. That should give the Steelers some cap space to resign some free agents.

I like Joe Haden, but he is on the decline in his career and he is aging. According to Rotoworld, Joe Haden will be 32 by next season and is already 31 years old.

The first player I would resign with that extra money is Cameron Sutton. Although Sutton is not a great run defender, he makes up for it by being a solid cover guy. He also adds the versatility of being able to play the inside and the outside.

I think Sutton is capable of being the Steeler’s other outside corner opposite Steven Nelson and I don’t think the Black & Gold will lose a lot by putting Sutton there. Sutton is still younger and will only be on his second contract where he can be at his peak. As a third-round pick, he was intended to be a starter at some point anyway.

According to Spotrac, Cameron Sutton has a market value of $7million a year. The Steelers could sign him for three years and get some stability at the position with a player in the prime of his career. I am proposing the Black & Gold sign Sutton for three years and 21 million.

The Black & Gold could also amortize his contract so that it is cheaper at the beginning and grows as the salary cap will grow from the recovery from the coronavirus revenue losses.

This move would keep one player and lose another but you would be getting a player in the prime of his career who has proven that he can do the job for the Steelers. Also from a salary cap standpoint, big names are usually overvalued and lessor names are undervalued. Getting bang for your buck is the key to managing the salary cap.