With CB Cameron Sutton suspended for the first eight games of the 2024 season for breaching the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy, the slot cornerback position is once again wide open. As the squad prepares for training camp, players like as Josiah Scott, Anthony Averett, Grayland Arnold, and UDFA Beanie Bishop compete for the starting role.
While Pittsburgh may look outside the club for potential slot corner possibilities to fill in while Sutton is away, they are more likely to open training camp with the players they already have and evaluate how they perform before making a move. Josiah Scott, who took first-team workouts at slot corner before Sutton’s return, has received significant attention this offseason.
According to Steelers Depot’s Josh Carney, Scott was the best fit for Pittsburgh’s slot corner position before signing Sutton, and this remains the case now. Scott has standard dimensions for a slot corner in the league, standing 5-foot-9 and weighing 185 pounds after being selected in the fourth round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2020 NFL draft. Scott was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles and has appeared in 39 games with four starts between the two teams, totaling 51 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack, eight pass deflections, and two interceptions on 577 snaps.
Scott lacks the ideal stature for the position, but he demonstrates the tenacity that a slot cornerback should possess. He is a willing run defender who will stick his face in the fan and make open-field tackles on ball carriers. Pittsburgh has a history of physical slot corners in run support with Mike Hilton and Arthur Maulet, and Scott can bring a similar mentality and skill set to the equation.
As Carney pointed out in his article on Scott, the veteran defensive back has a 55.9 overall grade from PFF, including a 56.9 in coverage and a 55.2 as a run defender, and has allowed 49 receptions on 61 targets for 589 yards and 5 touchdowns. Those figures may not inspire much confidence, but he has the speed to run with receivers down the field and across the intermediate zones. He is instinctive and can swiftly shift courses to redirect receivers down the routes. He should be considered a superior run defender than a pass coverage defender at the position, but he has enough snaps and production to merit a look.
Scott’s chances of making the roster are determined not just by his ability as a slot coverage defender, but also by his contributions on special teams. He has 370 career special team snaps, including as a punt gunner. With the team not re-signing WR Miles Boykin, who filled that role for Pittsburgh the previous two seasons, Scott may be overlooked in favor of ST Coordinator Danny Smith as he competes for the starting slot corner job, strengthening his resume to stay on the roster by contributing to multiple phases of the game for Pittsburgh.
Averett is Pittsburgh’s most experienced slot corner right now, but he missed all of last season due to an injury and joined the team on a tryout basis, so he is not guaranteed a spot on the roster. Scott is also younger, at 25 years old, and has more experience, which should help his case against current UDFA Beanie Bishop. Prior to Sutton’s suspension, Alex Kozora gave Scott only a 33% chance of making the roster.
The competition at slot cornerback should be one to watch in training camp, regardless of whether the Steelers sign someone from outside. However, if they decide to stick with who they have until Sutton returns, Scott’s skill set and previous experience will certainly place him at the top of the list.
