There are two things of which I am certain:

• Ross Cockrell has been a solid starting cornerback since he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015.
• Pittsburgh’s secondary will undergo some personnel and scheme shuffling in 2017.

To be clear, the Steelers’ secondary improved by leaps and bounds from 2015 to 2016, jumping nearly fifteen ranking spots. The second half of the 2016 season, the secondary was a top five unit. The wheels of change are in motion with an infusion of younger, talented defensive backs.

However, the AFC title game was a painful reminder that to get “over the hump”, Pittsburgh’s secondary will need to be able to incorporate effective man-to-man coverage because a good quarterback can read a zone defense and pick it apart, a la Tom Brady.

And Brady is the biggest detriment to the Steelers’ Super Bowl aspirations.

But alas, I am a believer that a team can’t put the same personnel on the field, playing the same defensive schemes, and expect the improvement it is seeking. For this reason, I assume that Artie Burns, heading into his second season, is the only corner who is guaranteed a starting job as the Steelers move forward with OTAs and into training camp this summer. Behind Burns, the other outside spot, along with slot corner, are wide open.

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Considering Cockrell is an outside corner, there’s only one player that I believe could take his starting job in training camp: rookie Cameron Sutton.

Pittsburgh drafted Sutton in the third round this year, then drafted Brian Allen two rounds later. I can’t imagine Allen will be up to par quick enough to challenge for a starting role – he’ll have to claw his way onto the roster first. William Gay and Senquez Golson figure to battle it out in the slot, while Coty Sensabaugh will fill the role of the versatile backup that can play both positions (if he makes the team).

This leaves Cockrell penciled in as the starter opposite Burns, but there are several reasons I believe Sutton will be in the running to at least rotate with Cockrell, assuming training camp and preseason go as planned.

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First, Sutton has been working at outside corner throughout OTAs, and he’s been impressive doing so.

Per Dale Lolley of the Washington Observer-Reporter:

I’m really liking what I’m seeing from rookie cornerback Cameron Sutton.

He had a nice interception this week, leaping high to come down with a pass. The young corner has shown good aggression in jumping routes and making plays on the football. He gets his hands on the ball – a lot.

I think Steelers fans are going to be very happy with him, as well. He looks like a player.”

Sutton’s coverage and ball skills are what attracted Pittsburgh to him. He also possesses a great football IQ, even going as far as to learn the assignments of every defensive position on the field. The only knock on Sutton is his perceived lack of physicality and willingness to tackle in run support, but both of those sentiments are a tad overblown compared to what he does well.

Secondly, while Cockrell has been solid, the fact that the Steelers placed an original round tender on him during the free agency period (fourth round), and retained his services without a long-term deal in place, tells me that they might not see him as the future at the position.

Rest assured Pittsburgh didn’t draft Sutton to warm the bench.

Lastly, Sutton is extremely versatile. He can play outside. He can play the slot. He can play nickel safety. He can return kicks. Being acclimated to many different roles means Sutton won’t be a deer in headlights when the pads go on in late July.

Whatever the outcome, Sutton will only aid in improving a secondary that needs to take a step in that regard if Pittsburgh is going to finally be able to realistically challenge New England. If I were a betting man, I’d bet on Sutton seeing the field much sooner rather than later.