Three draft options for the Steelers to replace CB Mike Hilton

As CB Mike Hilton departs to the Cincinnati Bengals, the role of Cameron Sutton increases & the Pittsburgh Steelers must look to the draft to find a replacement. 

Everyone remembers NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal at the free-throw line, right? Motionless in his wrist, a shot timer reminiscent of how physically fast he was on the court post-2004, and an intense focus of the rim to only shoot a career free throw percentage of 52.7, it became a running joke in his career. As much as fans hoped for both to go through the net, expectancy never failed, and sadly the Pittsburgh Steelers had to become Shaq at the free-throw line.

After securing CB Cameron Sutton to a two-year, $9 million contract with $3.5 guaranteed, all eyes immediately shifted towards CB Mike Hilton. Anxious for his return, his daily countdown on Twitter made it all worse for Steelers when news broke that he will be signing a four-year deal with their division rival, Cincinnati Bengals.

A departure that this defense will significantly miss, Hilton was the swiss army knife in how he could disrupt offenses at the line of scrimmage or in the backfield.

One of the league’s better slot corner in terms of pure impact, Sutton now steps in to fill in his shoes, and although he may not live up to efficiency Hilton has when sent on a blitz, his cover skills will more than hold up.

And as shown in the graphic, Sutton has versatility. Yes, the sample size is small if he can consistently perform well as an outside-CB, but it’s something to consider going into the draft. With a lack of depth, and questions surrounding what the Steelers will & should do with CBs Joe Haden & Steven Nelson, it’s essentially incompetence if Pittsburgh’s front office chooses not to draft from this loaded upcoming class.