You've heard the name. The Pittsburgh Steelers wanted him in the 2016 NFL Draft. The team desperately needed a cornerback and William Jackson III was going to fall right into their lap. That is, until their AFC North rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals, swooped him up just one pick before. After Jackson landed in Cincinnati, the Steelers were clearly left a little bit surprised.
BALTIMORE, MD - NOVEMBER 6: Cornerback Artie Burns #25 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts after making an interception in the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 6, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
They ended up reaching for a guy that not many had going in the first round, Artie Burns out of the University of Miami. We all know how that worked out. Burns started 36 games, including four playoff appearances, in four seasons in Pittsburgh. He left after the 2019 season as one of the biggest busts in team history in the process. Meanwhile, Jackson enjoyed four solid seasons with Cincinnati before hitting free agency in the 2021 off-season.
That's when the Steelers were linked to him again, as they obviously were interested in him in the pre-draft process and such a few years beforehand. ESPN referenced the Steelers as a fit for him before the Washington Commanders eventually signed him to a three-year, $40.5 million deal in free agency. On Thursday, it was reported by Ian Rapoport and NFL Network that the veteran corner is looking for a fresh start somewhere else.
He will not be playing on Thursday night against the Chicago Bears, as he will now try to be moved before the November 1st trade deadline. Jackson has been dealing with an ongoing back injury, but was also benched in the team's Week 5 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Whether the back injury or the benching is the reason for him not playing in Week 6, he did not travel with the team. Now, his tenure with the team looks to be coming to an end here soon.
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Crazily enough, Jackson is already 30 years old. Pro Football Focus hasn't been too kind to Jackson for his performance so far this season, giving him a rating of just 49.6 through five weeks. It's continued quite the downfall for him over the past few years, as he gets older. Here's how he's been rated by PFF in his six-year career:
- 2017: 90.2
- 2018: 73.4
- 2019: 53.6
- 2020: 71.4
- 2021: 59.3
- 2022: 49.6
Now, PFF isn't exactly the end all, be all. It's far from it, but this shows a somewhat disturbing trend. Other than a down year in 2019, Jackson was very good for the Bengals. He played just 12 games in 2021, as he missed some time due to injury. In 16 total games with the Commanders though, he's played some of the worst football in his career.
A change of scenery could be the difference for Jackson, especially returning to a familiar division in the AFC North. The Steelers desperately need cornerback help, as their top three guys are all injured at the moment. On top of that, even when healthy, Ahkello Witherspoon and Levi Wallace have been nothing more than average, if that. Due to his somewhat sizable contract through the 2023 season, it may not take much at all as far as draft capital in order to acquire Jackson.
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While it's been far from the defense's only problem, the secondary has been getting torched recently. A lack of a pass rush and more specifically the absence of TJ Watt has hurt the team on the back end, but they've still under-performed nonetheless. One would have to think that Jackson would be an upgrade over their current options, as he'd likely step in as the team's No. 1 immediately due to his overall upside. It remains unlikely for a multitude of reasons though: his age, signs of a decline in his play, and the amount of money that the Steelers already have invested in Wallace and the rest of that defense.
Should Pittsburgh trade for Jackson? What would you give up to acquire him at this point in his career? How likely is it? Share your opinions and thoughts in the comment section below.
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