Players Steelers can replace Cameron Sutton with in 2023
By Andrew Falce
Steelers could sign C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Call it a pipe dream, but my best replacement for Sutton in the slot is C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Like Branch, Gardner-Johnson is a natural safety, but he has proven to be a versatile weapon for any defense he has been on. He could come in as a strong safety and kick to the slot during necessary times for the defense.
Gardner-Johnson has proven to be an effective player while wearing all of these hats. He worked all over the Eagles secondary last season and to great effect. He could come in as an upgrade at strong safety and also a player that would be moved around to fill multiple holes. It is a bit of a luxury, but Gardner-Johnson would be a big upgrade for this defense.
He won’t come cheap, which is the biggest issue with the Steelers acquiring him. If they were willing to pay for him though, he could do a lot of different things for this defense. From replacing Sutton in the slot to playing strong safety to kicking down as a linebacker, Gardner-Johnson would be a major upgrade to this secondary.
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Sutton returning to the Steelers is far from a lock, and if he departs, the team will need a replacement. With the slot position being a more versatile one, the team does have some options on how to replace him if need be. That said, I still hope he sticks around in 2023.