With free agency right around the corner and Cameron Sutton officially avoiding a tag, odds are that he will test free agency. The Steelers have started contract negotiations, but unless they blow him away with an offer, he will likely see what the market values him.
I for one want him back, but it makes sense for him to see what other teams are offering. He is in the prime of his career, so maximizing the contract he signs is a logical move. If he ends up taking a bigger contract elsewhere, the team will need to have a backup in place. Here are the best replacements for the Steelers for Sutton if he walks in free agency.
Steelers could sign Bobby McCain
Bobby McCain has been a name linked to the Steelers since he was drafted in 2015. The team had a lot of interest in him, but he ultimately went to the Dolphins instead. He did enough to earn a sizable extension before getting cut last season. He found a home with the Commanders but is once again heading to free agency.
Of every name on this list, McCain is easily the worst option with the least amount of potential. That said, the team liked him as a prospect and could add him on the cheap. He can provide depth at safety and even be a low-tier starter. Most important, he can be a viable slot defender for this defense. If Pittsburgh opts for the budget option, McCain makes a lot of sense.
Steelers could target Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson
The Steelers love bloodlines, and Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson fits that bill. He is the nephew of former running back LaDainian Tomlinson and has carved out a successful career at his uncle's alma mater TCU. He lacks the size you want in an outside cornerback but is plenty big enough and feisty enough to play the slot.
His tape is a lot of fun to watch. Despite being smaller, Hodges-Tomlinson has a knack for sticking his nose into most plays. He uses his athleticism to make an impact all over the field. Where he noticeably struggles is in press coverage, as he can get bullied by receivers that are bigger than him. That wouldn’t be as big of a concern in the slot.
This is an extremely deep cornerback class, and because of this, Hodges-Tomlinson will likely fall in favor of some of the more prototypical builds at the position. He can play in the slot right away though, and his demeanor will make him a fan favorite quickly. If Sutton walks, Hodges-Tomlinson can step in early and replace him.
Steelers could sign Bryon Murphy
The most one-for-one replacement on this list, Bryon Murphy was another draft target the Steelers seemingly had circled before he went to the Cardinals. He has had a decent career to this point, and he has carved out a role in the slot. His size and lack of physicality make him a great fit there from a coverage perspective.
If Sutton walks away on a bigger deal than the Steelers want to give him, Murphy could fill in on a cheaper deal. While he is a solid coverage option, he lacks the tackling ability of Sutton and he hasn’t proven himself to be a capable outside option. That said, he is still extremely young and can man the slot position for the foreseeable future.
While Murphy has some inconsistencies in his game, he is young enough to continue getting better. He lacks the versatility that Sutton provides, but he still wouldn’t be a bad addition to this defense. He is a natural slot defender, and if added, he would fill that role well enough in 2023.
Steelers could draft Brian Branch
As you will see with my top two replacement options, I really like the idea of finding a safety that can also work in the slot. This defense did great utilizing multiple safeties last season, and while they may lose one of their strong safeties, finding a replacement could be big. If that replacement could also play in the slot, it would give the Steelers a lot of versatility.
While I’m not in favor of spending a first-round pick on a defensive back given the other needs on this team, Brian Branch could sway me. He is a player that can come in right away and wear a lot of hats. He can line up as either safety or can play in the slot. That was where he got a lot of burn while at Alabama.
If the Steelers want a pro-ready rookie to man the slot in 2023, Branch is their best bet. He can find a home there and also kick out to safety when a slot defender isn’t on the field. If the team opts to shore up their secondary in the first round, Branch makes a lot of sense. He can be an instant replacement for Sutton on defense.
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.
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.