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NFL rumors: Steelers losing Cameron Sutton makes draft plans clear

There have been some solid moves from the Pittsburgh Steelers early in free agency but, at the same time, re-signing guys like Larry Ogunjobi has also meant seeing talented players like cornerback Cameron Sutton walk. On Monday, Sutton signed a three-year deal with the Detroit Lions, cementing his exit from the Steel City.

On the surface, the Steelers did seemingly make a move to offset the loss of Sutton with the signing of veteran Patrick Peterson. However, at his age and given the need at the position being pretty substantial for Pittsburgh, that’s far from a long-term or high-end solution. And that brings us to the 2023 NFL Draft.

It was always likely that the Steelers could use their first-round pick (No. 17 overall) on a cornerback, but now that is looking increasingly necessary for the viability of the defense, a strength of this team, moving forward.

Perhaps the most obvious solution would be a familiar face — or at least a familiar name.

Joey Porter Jr. out of Penn State makes a ton of sense for the Steelers. He fits the mold as a big, long cornerback that Pittsburgh has long been interested in while also having ties to the organization given his father’s long history in the Steel City. His draft projection has him around that Top 20 mark, so the Steelers taking him with the 17th pick is starting to look like it can be written in Sharpie given how the early offseason and free agency have played out.