4 Steelers that could see a depth chart demotion after camp

Steelers Cameron Sutton

Moving up: James Pierre

Let me get this straight before anyone misinterprets this: Cameron Sutton is a good player, and I do believe he has inside/outside flexibility as a cornerback. That said, his body type and sharp instincts make him a better slot corner despite his ability to cover on the outside. While the Steelers could certainly play him in both roles, it would be far easier for him to focus on just one job if they have another capable outside corner.

By all accounts, James Pierre is set to take on a significant role for the Steelers this season. He was hyped up coming into camp and hasn’t disappointed since taking the field during the offseason. The initial expectation was for Pierre to play outside in dime while Sutton resumed his role as the sixth defensive back (a hybrid corner/safety/linebacker) since he has played so well. He has since been upgraded to likely playing on the outside in nickel as well now.

At the rate this is going, there may be a reason to just announce Pierre as the full-time starter on the outside and allow Sutton to be the main slot cornerback. Having an elite slot cornerback is valuable to any team, and Sutton could realistically crack the top five slot players if he dedicated himself to the position. He would still be a starter and would play well over 75 percent of the defensive snaps on the year. On the flip side, he wouldn’t have to wear too many shoes and could focus on covering players on the inside only. Week one will likely see Sutton on the outside before he moves to the slot, but if Pierre can hold up, it may make the most sense to keep Sutton on the inside permanently.

While some of these players have had strong camps, the fact remains that the Steelers need to field the best complete roster in 2021 if they want to remain competitive. While these players were considered starters before training camp, they may see their names move around the depth chart more due to others making a stronger push for a role on the team in 2021.