It isn’t often you see an NFL player make a switch from one side of the football to the other. But the Pittsburgh Steelers are trying a little experiment with rookie edge rusher Sutton Smith. Smith played defense exclusively at Northern Illinois University but was an exceptional running back in high school.
And it appears the Steelers are looking to tap into some of those skills during organized team activities. Smith’s speed and explosion are certainly enticing qualities for a hybrid fullback.
But what impact would this move mean for the Steelers roster? In theory, if the Steelers see enough out of Sutton to give him reps at fullback, it could make veteran Roosevelt Nix expendable.
Nix has been with the team since 2015 and just last offseason signed a four-year contract worth $6.975 million. But in a league where roster space is at a premium, having a guy like Sutton who could fill in at fullback as needed while still being available for defense and special teams, makes a lot of sense. Most teams rarely utilize a true fullback on a regular basis and the Steelers have even tinkered with two-back sets using to running backs and no fullback at all.
Would the Steelers cut Nix? You’d like to think Nix is safe but anything is possible and this is certainly something to keep an eye on through training camp.
