4 pivotal questions Steelers need to answer in Week 1 vs.49ers

What will the Steelers do in the slot?

One of the biggest questions from all of the offseason is the Steelers slot cornerback position. The team lost entrenched starter Cameron Sutton in free agency who worked out of the slot, and there was no clear replacement following the draft and free agency. The team threw a lot of mud at the wall, and I am curious as to what will stick.

The first answer appears to be Patrick Peterson, as the veteran moved around the secondary during the offseason. Given his age and lack of experience there though, I’m skeptical of the fit. Next are veteran incumbents Elijah Riley and Chandon Sullivan, who both earned a spot out of camp but lack great film at the position.

Who I really want to see is Desmond King. The Steelers added him after cutdown days, and he has been a viable slot defender for most of his career. His short turnaround from being signed to playing may keep him off the field in week one, but if he does see snaps, I’m curious if he will leapfrog other slot options.

There are still a lot of question marks at the position, and they will need to be answered sooner than later. The slot role has become a de facto starter for most teams, so getting a capable player there is a must.

With week one finally here, the Steelers still have a lot of questions that need to be answered. While there is a litany of other ones, these are the four most pivotal questions the team needs to answer in week one, as they will likely impact the outcome of this game.