Editor’s note: From now until reporting day to training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2025 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between June 12 and July 23. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.
DB CAMERON MCCUTCHEON
Experience/age: spent a season on Rams’ practcie squad, 25
Contract status: $840,000 cap hit if he makes the team in 2025, after which would be an exclusive rights free agent
The past: McCutcheon played five seasons at the FCS level in college — from 2018-2020 at Gardner-Webb and 2021-2022 at Western Carolina. In 47 career college games, McCutcheon had 166 tackles (111 solo, 5.5 for loss), three interceptions, two forced fumbles and 15 pass defenses. He mostly played as an outside cornerback — which opened eyes because he was listed on college rosters as 6-foot-3, 200 pounds. (Once the draft process began, McCutcheon was bumped to a 6-1 official height). Still, at 204 pounds, that’s good size for a player who during preseason games the past two years for the Los Angeles Rams remained on the outside.
McCutcheon joined the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2003 and although he did not make the initial active roster, spent all of the regular season (except for one week) on their practice squad. The Rams kept him in the organization last spring all the way through until final cuts. This time, though, they did not carry him on the practice squad. The Steelers signed him to a reserve/future contract in January.
The team leader in tackles among defensive backs, @GWUFootball's Cameron McCutcheon significantly limited opponents' aerial attacks for the #RunninBulldogs last fall.
Check out these highlights from the Seneca, South Carolina native's sophomore season in Boiling Springs: pic.twitter.com/Or5cTt3Mu0
— Gardner-Webb Athletics (@GWUSports) June 29, 2020
2025 outlook: Scouting reports on McCutcheon leading up to the draft suggest he knows how to use his size to his advantage – he plays physical. That’s music to the Steelers coaching staff’s ears; the organization has always prioritized tackling and size in its defensive backs. For what it’s worth, over six career NFL preseason games, McCutcheon has 12 tackles and five pass breakups.
In a quirk, Cameron is one of two players with a last name of “McCutcheon” on the Steelers’ offseason roster. Lance, a wide receiver, is not related – but the two also were with the Rams in 2023. Regardless, McCutcheon will need to show a proficiency on special teams to have a chance to stick on the active roster. Even that is a longshot, particularly after last week’s trade for Jalen Ramsey that left the Steelers loaded at cornerback. McCutcheon perhaps can show value as a practice player (it’s not easy to replicate his size) as another case to remain on the regular-season practice squad.