Cameron Sutton

Steelers UDFA Looking To Fill In For Cameron Sutton

July 13th, 2024 at 5:53pm CST by Ely Allen

The Steelers defense was dealt a blow when the league leveled an eight-game suspension on presumed starting nickelback Cameron Sutton. With Sutton out for just under half of the season, finding someone else to step in becomes crucial to the secondary. During a deep dive into the defense, The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly looked into some likely options to start the season as the team’s top slot cornerback.

After six years in Pittsburgh, Sutton was not a part of the team’s defense in 2023 after signing a three-year deal to head to Detroit. Shortly after his first season with the Lions, though, an arrest warrant was issued for Sutton as he faced a charge of domestic battery by strangulation. The next day, the Lions cut ties with Sutton. Sutton met with his former team a little over a month later, eventually signing with the Steelers back in June on a one-year deal for the veteran minimum.

The Steelers likely took Sutton on knowing that he’d be suspended by the league for some period of time. Until he can make his reappearance for Pittsburgh in Week 10, though, the Steelers will need to fill his role.

To that purpose, the team is looking mainly in two directions. One option is veteran cornerback Josiah Scott, who has spent the last three years with the Eagles after getting traded by the Jaguars following his rookie season. Scott isn’t unfamiliar with Pittsburgh, spending two weeks on the practice squad last year before returning to Philadelphia. In the two seasons before bouncing around last year, Scott started four of 29 game appearances for the Eagles. Kaboly notes that Scott was running as the first-team nickelback early in the spring before the team added Sutton.

Another player has appeared as an under the radar option to take over the starting job, though. Undrafted rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop has emerged as a new favorite for the job, according to Kaboly. Starting his collegiate career at Western Kentucky, Bishop didn’t start a game for the Hilltoppers until getting a single start in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season.

He became a full-time starter as a fourth-year redshirt sophomore, leading the team with three interceptions. Bishop transferred to Minnesota the following year, playing in every game for the Golden Gophers. He transferred one more time for his final season of eligibility in order to be a full-time starter at West Virginia. With the Mountaineers, Bishop led the nation with an incredible 20 pass breakups and led his team with four interceptions, earning both first- and second-team All-American honors and first-team All-Big 12 honors.

Bishop’s success has continued so far in his NFL career. Signing with the Steelers after surprisingly going undrafted, Bishop has made an impact early on in the offseason. He seemed to be a candidate to earn a roster spot as an undrafted rookie with lots of playing time early into organized team activities, but Kaboly notes that Bishop even nabbed the starting role as the team concluded mandatory minicamp.

With Sutton out for the first half of the season, things are shaping up to give Bishop an opportunity to make a big impact as an undrafted rookie in 2024. He’s looking likely to have a guaranteed roster spot right now, but a good training camp could book a starting job for Bishop to start the year.

Steelers CB Cameron Sutton Issued Eight-Game Suspension

July 8th, 2024 at 9:26pm CST by Adam La Rose

The NFL’s investigation into Cameron Sutton has concluded, and it has resulted in a suspension. The Steelers cornerback has been issued an eight-game ban for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, as noted by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. He will not appeal the suspension, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Sutton was the subject of an arrest warrant which was issued in March on the charge of domestic battery by strangulation. The 29-year-old was a member of the Lions at the time, having played in Detroit for 2023 on a $11MM-per-year deal. One day after news of the warrant broke, the Lions released him.

More than three weeks after the warrant was issued (which was well before it became public knowledge), Sutton surrendered to police. The Lions had advised him to do so, and since then he has seen misdemeanor battery charges resolved by entering a pretrial diversion program. As past disciplinary decisions have shown, however, players do not need to be convicted of crimes to face punishment under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Shortly before the draft, Sutton took part in a free agent visit with the Steelers, the team with which he spent the first six years of his career. No further developments on that front took place for several weeks until, in June, the parties agreed to a one-year deal. Sutton was set to earn the veteran minimum on his Pittsburgh accord, so being suspended without pay for the campaign’s opening eight weeks will lower his earnings considerably.

A third-round pick in 2017, Sutton logged just two starts across his first three seasons in the league. The Tennessee alum has been a mainstay on his teams’ defenses since then, though, logging over 1,000 snaps in 2021 and doing so again during his single Lions campaign last season. That experience will give Pittsburgh a starting-caliber option in the secondary during the second half of the year.

The Steelers have Joey Porter Jr. in place as a perimeter starter, and the same will likely be true of trade acquisition Donte Jackson. Sutton has primarily played on the boundary during his career, but he has experience in the slot and could find himself there upon returning to Pittsburgh’s lineup once his suspension has been served. A depth addition this summer could now be on the team’s radar knowing they will be shorthanded in the secondary, however.

The Steelers’ bye week falls on Week 9, meaning the earliest point at which Sutton could make his debut would be during the team’s Week 10 matchup against the Commanders.

Steelers Bring Back CB Cameron Sutton

June 7th, 2024 at 3:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

JUNE 7: Sutton will indeed come back to Pittsburgh for the league minimum. His $1.21MM base salary matches Russell Wilson‘s, though KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes the veteran cornerback will count $985K against the Steelers’ cap. Unlike Wilson, the Steelers did not guarantee Sutton any money, per OverTheCap.

JUNE 5: The Steelers already met with Cameron Sutton in the wake of his Lions release. The parties are huddling up again Wednesday, and a reunion will come to pass. Sutton is expected to rejoin the Steelers, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac.

A one-year contract worth the veteran minimum is the anticipated outcome here, Dulac adds. This would be a major step back for a player who was tied to an $11MM-per-year deal entering the offseason, but a domestic violence arrest brought a quick end to Sutton’s Detroit tenure. Sutton’s Pittsburgh return is indeed a go, with NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero confirming the sides have another deal in place.

A Steelers draft choice who played six seasons with the team, Sutton spent one season with the Lions. Several weeks after Detroit designated the veteran starter as a post-June 1 cut, Pittsburgh will sign off on another agreement. The initial Steelers-Sutton meeting occurred back in April, and although a suspension is expected in connection with Sutton’s arrest on a domestic battery by strangulation charge, the Mike Tomlin-Omar Khan tandem is comfortable greenlighting a reunion.

An early-March arrest warrant went out for Sutton, but the seven-year veteran did not turn himself in for more than three weeks. Sutton, 29, had been seen at the Lions’ facility between the warrant emerging and his eventual arrest. The Lions moved on from Sutton’s three-year, $33MM deal a day after the report of the warrant surfaced.

Police responded to a call pertaining to an alleged domestic incident in Lutz, Florida. Sutton fled the scene after this alleged battery; evidence of wounds was present on the woman’s body. Sutton owns a home in Pinellas County, Florida. It is not known if Sutton will be suspended this season, but that seems likely. Under the NFL’s personal conduct policy, players do not need to be convicted of crimes to receive NFL bans.

This certainly produces an interesting addition for the Steelers, who used Sutton as their No. 1 corner for a stretch earlier this decade. Sutton played well on the two-year, $9MM deal he signed in 2021, leading to the Lions’ pricier commitment last year. Sutton will have a chance to carve out a role in a CB contingent headed by 2023 second-round pick Joey Porter Jr. and recent trade acquisition Donte Jackson. Sutton started 39 games for the Steelers from 2017-22; 31 of those starts came between the 2021 and ’22 seasons.

The Steelers were believed to be interested in a third Sutton contract in 2023, but the team’s offer did not approach where the Lions went in free agency. Pittsburgh instead opted for a cheaper deal with Patrick Peterson, whom the team released earlier this offseason, and the Porter pick at No. 32 overall. Another Peterson deal had not been ruled out previously, but this Sutton signing would stand to reduce the chances the likely Hall of Famer returns.

Sutton is coming off a down season in Detroit. Pro Football Focus ranked the 5-foot-11 cover man 104th (out of 127 regulars) at the position in 2023, and the Lions have gone through with an overhaul at the position. Under Tomlin and DC Teryl Austin in 2022, however, Sutton finished in the top five (among corners) in passer rating allowed as the closest defender, per Next Gen Stats; he ended that season with a career-high 15 passes defensed. The Steelers will see if Sutton can rebound back in their system.

How the Steelers configure their reshaped CB group will be interesting. Although Sutton has experience in the slot, he has primarily been a boundary defender in recent years. The Steelers waited until Round 6 (Ryan Watts) to draft a corner this year. Via offset language, this agreement stands to cut into the dead money the Lions will see over the next two offseasons. Detroit took on $8.72MM in Sutton dead money this offseason.

Steelers Met With CB Cameron Sutton

April 27th, 2024 at 9:32am CST by Ben Levine

Following a one-season stop in Detroit, Cameron Sutton could be eyeing a return to Pittsburgh. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and GM Omar Khan met with the cornerback last week, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

After inking a three-year, $33MM deal with the Lions last offseason, Sutton was released by the team after facing charges of domestic battery by strangulation. Nearly three weeks after an arrest warrant was issued, Sutton turned himself in to police in late March.

The cornerback will surely face punishment from the NFL, and there were questions surrounding his future in the NFL. It sounds like Sutton could have at least one potential suitor in his former team, although there’s a good chance the Steelers let the legal process play out before they make a move.

The former third-round pick spent the first six seasons of his career in Pittsburgh, starting 39 of his 84 appearances. After spending the first chunk of his career as a backup, Sutton emerged as a starter during his final two years with the team, starting 31 of his 32 appearances. That included a 2022 campaign where the defensive back finished with 43 tackles to go along with career highs in interceptions (three) and passes defended (15).

The 29-year-old started all 17 games for the Lions last season, finishing with 65 tackles and one interception. He also started each of Detroit’s three playoff games, adding another eight tackles. Pro Football Focus only ranked Sutton 104th among 127 qualifying cornerbacks last season.

The Steelers added Donte Jackson to start alongside Joey Porter Jr. at cornerback, but the team lacks experience beyond that duo. The team’s current depth options include upcoming sophomores Cory Trice, who is recovering from a torn ACL, and Darius Rush, who was limited to three appearances as a rookie.

CB Cameron Sutton Taken Into Custody

March 31st, 2024 at 8:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

A warrant went out for Cameron Sutton‘s arrest in early March; more than three weeks later, the former Lions and Steelers cornerback turned himself in.

Sutton was taken into custody on a domestic battery by strangulation charge, according to the Hillsborough (Fla.) County Sherriff’s Office. The Lions released Sutton, 29, last week. The alleged crime took place on the morning of March 7, but Sutton remained at large for weeks. He was seen at the Lions’ facility working out despite being wanted; the team cut him soon after.

Police in Florida issued the warrant March 7. The Lions released the 2023 free agent pickup on March 21, a day after the report of the warrant surfaced. This search for Sutton stems from police responding to a call pertaining to an alleged domestic incident early that morning in Lutz, Florida. He arrived at the Orient Road Jail shortly after 8pm Sunday night.

Sutton’s NFL career is certainly in jeopardy, with the Lions having released him following the report of the warrant. The team had advised Sutton to turn himself in, but that conversation occurred more than a week ago.

“We were learning it the same moment you guys were learning about the warrant,” Lions president Rod Wood said (via the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett) earlier this week. “Actually I was on a Zoom call with the league on another matter when it popped up on my phone. As soon as that call wrapped up, we kind of quickly convened and talked about it. We were able to reach Cam and talk about it and suggested that he get counsel and do the right thing to turn himself in. And then after that, we met the rest of the day and then the following morning to decide to release him.”

Sutton has played seven NFL seasons — six with the Steelers, one with the Lions — and has been a starter for most of his career. The Lions gave the former third-round pick a three-year, $33MM deal. An NFL suspension, which seems likely to commence, would void the $9MM in remaining guarantees on Sutton’s Detroit contract.

Lions Eyeing Free Agent CB Addition

March 28th, 2024 at 1:14pm CST by Adam La Rose

With Cameron Sutton having been released, the Lions have a vacancy at the cornerback spot. The upcoming draft will present the opportunity to add a rookie at the position, but a veteran signing should not be ruled out.

“Certainly, there are still some guys we are looking at in free agency that can bring in some competition,” Campbell said during the league meetings (via the team’s website). “That may or may not be done before the draft.”

Many veteran signings do not take place until after the draft has been completed in large part because those pacts do not factor into the compensatory pick formula. Detroit has already been active in the secondary this offseason, trading for Carlton Davis and signing Amik Robertson. The team also retained Emmanuel Moseley, but Sutton served as a full-time starter in his single campaign in the Motor City.

The latter is the subject of an arrest warrant on the charge of domestic battery by strangulation. That became public knowledge on March 20, which is also the day the Lions became aware of Sutton’s situation. As detailed by Justin Rogers of the Detroit News, the 29-year-old was at the team’s facility when the news of the arrest warrant broke. Team president Rod Wood confirmed at the league meetings he encouraged Sutton to turn himself in. That has not happened, leading to the decision to release him.

As things currently stand, Davis, Robertson and Moseley will be joined by 2023 second-rounder Brian Branch atop the Lions’ CB depth chart. The team owns seven draft picks, including three of the first 73 selections; as a result, the addition of a rookie would come as little surprise. A number of veterans – a list headlined by Xavien Howard – are still on the market, though, and it will be interesting to see if the Lions pursue one before the draft. Detroit entered Thursday with over $26.5MM in cap space.

Lions Release CB Cameron Sutton

March 21st, 2024 at 10:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

One day after it was learned an arrest warrant is out for Cameron Sutton, his Lions tenure has come to end. The veteran corner has been released, per a team announcement. ESPN’s Field Yates notes this will come with a post-June 1 designation, creating $1.5MM in cap space beginning June 2.

A report from Wednesday detailed how a warrant for Sutton’s arrest has been in place for nearly two weeks. Police currently cannot locate the 29-year-old, who is facing a charge of domestic battery by strangulation. In advance of potential legal and NFL punishments, his Lions contract has now been terminated.

The former third-rounder is wanted in connection with an incident which took place in Lutz, Florida. Sutton is alleged to have been involved in a domestic incident with a woman, with evidence of wounds found on the victim’s body. He fled the scene at the time of the incident, and Yates’ colleague Eric Woodward reports Sutton has still yet to surrender himself to police.

The Lions signed Sutton to a three-year, $33MM contract last offseason. That deal called for $10.5MM in base salary in 2024, $9MM of which was guaranteed. NFL suspensions void guaranteed compensation, however, and while it is too early in this case to know if it will be relevant or not, convictions are not necessary for league bans to be imposed. Detroit could also attempt to recoup the outstanding $8.72MM of Sutton’s $10.9MM signing bonus which has not already been paid out on the cap.

The Lions made Sutton a central part of their efforts to add in the secondary in 2023, and the former Steeler was a full-time starter in his debut campaign with Detroit. The team once again prioritized CB moves with respect to free agency this offseason, and that resulted in the trade acquisition of Carlton Davis from the Buccaneers. Amik Robertson was also added on a two-year deal, and those arrivals will be joined by returnee Emmanuel Moseley in 2024.

With Sutton no longer in the picture, cornerback will be a position of focus for the Lions ahead of next month’s draft. For Sutton himself, meanwhile, today’s news puts his NFL future in jeopardy.

Arrest Warrant Out For Lions CB Cameron Sutton

March 20th, 2024 at 12:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

An arrest warrant is out for Lions cornerback Cameron Sutton, who is facing a charge of domestic battery by strangulation, ESPN.com’s Eric Woodyard reports.

This warrant has been active for nearly two weeks, as Woodyard adds police cannot locate Sutton. Police in Florida issued the warrant March 7. This search for Sutton stems from police responding to a call pertaining to an alleged domestic incident early that morning in Lutz, Florida. The Lions have confirmed they are aware of the warrant.

Sutton fled the scene after this alleged battery, Woodyard indicates; evidence of wounds was present on the woman’s body. In addition to his Detroit residence, Sutton has a home in Pinellas County, Florida, but the authorities’ search for the 29-year-old cornerback there — along with calls from detectives — has not produced an arrest.

This development obviously represents significant trouble for Sutton, who signed a three-year, $33MM deal with the Lions in 2023. Sutton is due a $10.5MM base salary in 2024; $9MM of that is guaranteed. An NFL suspension would void that guarantee. The league’s personal conduct policy does not require a conviction to take place for a ban to be levied.

Brought over after six Steelers seasons, Sutton started all 20 Lions games last year. He intercepted one pass and broke up six more. Pro Football Focus did not view Sutton as a quality corner in 2023, slotting him outside the top 100 after he had played well on the Pittsburgh pact to earn the Detroit offer.

Steelers Rumors: Peterson, Sutton, OL

March 30th, 2023 at 9:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Still opting to conserve costs at cornerback, the Steelers let Cameron Sutton walk in free agency and replaced him with Patrick Peterson. While the latter’s resume laps Sutton’s, the new Pittsburgh cover man is going into his age-33 season. Peterson bounced back in Minnesota, intercepting five passes last season, and Mike Tomlin plans to take advantage of the All-Decade corner’s experience. Tomlin said he will not shy away from using Peterson around the formation, including at safety, this season. The 17th-year Steelers HC has discussed this with Peterson, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets.

This would be a transition to monitor, and increased safety usage would be a way for Peterson to play well into his mid-30s. Rod Woodson, Charles Woodson and Ronde Barber transitioned to safety as their careers advanced; each Hall of Famer finished his career at the position. Peterson will have a Hall of Fame case when he retires; his Steelers tenure will help determine if he can ascend to first-ballot status. The Steelers have Minkah Fitzpatrick rostered at safety and have Damontae Kazee and Keanu Neal at the position, with the latter agreeing to terms Thursday, whereas their corner group invites more questions. Citing Peterson’s intelligence, Tomlin is still planning to move the 13th-year defender off his usual boundary corner post at times.

Here is the latest out of Pittsburgh:

Sutton signed a three-year, $33MM deal with the Lions. While the Steelers expressed interest in keeping him on a third contract, Dulac notes their offer was not in this ballpark. Pittsburgh had kept Sutton on a two-year, $9MM deal in 2021; he outplayed that contract and will now be asked to be Detroit’s No. 1 corner. The Steelers gave Peterson a two-year, $14MM pact with just $5.9MM guaranteed; they still roster Levi Wallace and Ahkello Witherspoon, who are each on $4MM-per-year deals.
On the subject of rejected Steelers offers, the team is believed to have extended a proposal to Eric Kendricks. Pittsburgh has been connected to making a strong offer to Kendricks, Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com writes. A UCLA alum, Kendricks will return to Los Angeles on a two-year, $13.25MM Chargers contract. The Steelers have still overhauled their linebacker group, cutting Myles Jack and letting Devin Bush leave for a Seahawks deal. Cole Holcomb (three years, $18MM) and Elandon Roberts (two years, $7MM) are now in the fold.
Shifting to the O-line, Tomlin offered support for scrutinized tackles Dan Moore and Chukwuma Okorafor by indicating he was “comfortable” with the starting duo, per Kaboly. Pro Football Focus rated both between No. 55 and No. 60 at tackle last season. The Steelers have added both Isaac Seumalo, whom Tomlin has not determined which guard spot he will play, and Nate Herbig this offseason but largely left the tackle spots alone. The Steelers, whom Kaboly notes were briefly tied to Orlando Brown Jr. during a free agency stretch that ended with Brown a Bengal, will be connected to tackles early in the draft. Though, the cornerback need may take precedence. Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock sends a corner (Maryland’s Deonte Banks) to Pittsburgh.
The team also added swingman Le’Raven Clark recently. A former Colts third-rounder who spent last season with the Titans, Clark signed a one-year, $1.2MM deal, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. The experienced O-lineman’s $50K signing bonus represents the only guarantees in this deal, which will qualify the eighth-year veteran as a competitor for a depth role.
The Steelers made a coaching tweak recently, promoting assistant outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin to OLBs coach, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com tweets. The former scout has been with the team eight years. Pittsburgh also hired Jason Brooks as a defensive quality control assistant; Brooks previously was on Baltimore’s staff.

Lions To Sign CB Cameron Sutton

March 13th, 2023 at 12:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

Ending last season with the NFL’s worst-ranked defense, the Lions are adding one of the top cornerbacks available. They are picking up former Steelers corner Cameron Sutton, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Sutton, who has spent his entire career in Pittsburgh, will head to Detroit on a three-year, $33MM deal featuring $22.5MM guaranteed. Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports (via Twitter) that Sutton will also receive a $10.9MM signing bonus.

A former third-round pick, Sutton will do far better on his third NFL contract compared to his second. He just finished out a two-year, $9MM deal — agreed to just prior to free agency in 2021. The Steelers received quality work from Sutton last season; he was by far their most dependable corner. Sutton finished in the top five in passer rating allowed as the closest defender, per Next Gen Stats, last season (among corners) and ended the year with a career-high 15 passes defensed.

The Lions, meanwhile, ranked 30th in pass defense and have not been able to rely on Bob Quinn-era draftee Jeff Okudah just yet. The new addition will now be a centerpiece player for Aaron Glenn‘s defense in 2023. The seventh-year veteran will attempt to fill a void on the outside in Detroit, though Sutton also brings extensive slot experience as well. That will give Glenn options as he attempts to pick up the pieces ahead of his third season as DC.

Detroit did not roster a cornerback that ranked inside Pro Football Focus’ top 60 at the position last season. Despite Okudah being the highest-drafted corner (No. 3 overall) since 1997, he has not shown sufficient consistency. The team is almost definitely targeting upgrades at other defensive positions as well, though Sutton will qualify as a significant improvement at corner.

The Steelers have T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick tied to top-market deals at their respective positions, and Cameron Heyward is on an upper-tier interior defensive line pact as well. The team has not devoted much in the way of financial resources to the cornerback spot since passing on a third Joe Haden contract last year. Pittsburgh rolled into the 2022 season with no corner tied to a deal north of $4.5MM per year. The team has since signed Patrick Peterson to a two-year agreement, but it can be assumed the aging veteran’s contract will not qualify as a high-end accord.

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