Ever since former Vol cornerback Cam Sutton was drafted with the 94th overall pick in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, he’s been impressing his new NFL team.
Sutton has been practicing all over the field for the Steelers, trying his hand on the outside corner positions and at nickel as well. Not only that, but Sutton offers superb punt returning skills that he showed off on his way to breaking records at Tennessee. And people are starting to take notice of Sutton up in Pittsburgh.
According to Jeremy Fowler, a senior NFL writer for ESPN who covers the Steelers, Sutton is a name to watch after his performance at the Steelers’ OTAs early this summer. Here’s what Fowler had to say about Sutton for a piece on ESPN listing a player from every NFL team as an under-the-radar name to watch after OTAs:
Sutton, a third-round rookie, was productive in OTAs and seems to understand what the Steelers want out of their pass coverage. He is trying to separate himself in a crowded cornerback room, but he has a few things going for him: He can play multiple spots, he can play man or zone, and he offsets a lack of raw speed with instincts. “The mentality is, if the ball is in the air, you have to demand the ball,” Sutton said
Sutton’s versatility may be what ultimately separates him from other cornerbacks on Pittsburgh’s roster. He may not have elite size or elite speed, but as Fowler says, Sutton does have strong instincts and solid coverage skills.
As Fowler stated, Pittsburgh’s cornerback depth chart is crowded right now. Sutton is competing against players like William Gay, Senquez Golson, Coty Sensabaugh, and fellow 2017 draft pick Brian Allen. Sutton may not see much playing time as a rookie, but he can set a strong foundation for his future with the organization with a strong first year of practice and reps on the field.
It’s still very early in his NFL career, but Cam Sutton is already starting to draw attention in Pittsburgh. Vol fans hope that trend continues as his career goes on.
