Cam Sutton is back from his suspension and will at some point replace Beanie Bishop Jr. in the starting lineup. Just a month ago this would have been a no-brainer, but Bishop bounced back in a big way over the last few weeks with solid play. That included three interceptions over the last two games, and an AFC Defensive Rookie of the Month nod from the NFL.
Even with the impressive last few games, the experience and versatility of Sutton should win out in the end.
“There’s more to it than just getting interceptions and I think with Sutton’s versatility, his experience, I think that’s gonna come through and eventually he’ll bump Beanie out of a job,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo said via 93.7 The Fan’s Joe Starkey Show. “I don’t know if it’s gonna be in Washington. I think they’ll work Sutton in slowly, but eventually, yeah. He will take over the slot.”
Remember, Sutton signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Detroit Lions in March 2023. He had just come off a very solid season for the Pittsburgh Steelers with 15 passes defensed and three interceptions, and he proved himself to be a valuable chess piece who could play in the slot or out wide. His first year with the Lions didn’t work out, Sutton playing purely on the outside, but he still brings that versatility back to Pittsburgh and knows the defense well from his first six NFL seasons.
Did Bishop earn himself an extra handful of snaps per game with his stellar play over the last few weeks? I think he probably did, but that doesn’t mean he is already better than Sutton. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac recently stated that the Steelers have been counting down the weeks until Sutton can get back into the lineup, and “that is still the case” despite Bishop’s improved play.
If you take inventory of the defense, the weakest spot over the first two months by a pretty wide margin has been slot corner. I think Bishop represented himself well for the most part, but a rookie is still a rookie, and Bishop is an undrafted one at that.
If Sutton can perform anywhere close to his former level of play with the Steelers, they will have above-average to great starters at all 11 positions on the defense. They are already one of the best in the league, but maybe this can put them over the top to be the undisputed No. 1 defense down the stretch of the season.
