The Pittsburgh Steelers had been linked to cornerback, William Jackson III, for a long time. It started in the 2016 NFL Draft process. As we know, the Cincinnati Bengals selected him just one pick before the black and gold, forcing former GM Kevin Colbert to reach for Artie Burns. The connection popped up again in the 2021 off-season, but Jackson ended up signing with the Washington Commanders.
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He earned quite the deal with the NFC East squad, a three-year, $40.5 million contract to be exact. The Steelers were never going to pay him that, so it made sense as to why he didn’t end up in black and gold once again. His time in Washington didn’t exactly go according to plan though, as injuries certainly played a role in his decreased effectiveness. Jackson ended up playing just 16 games for the Commanders, racking up just two interceptions and 10 pass deflections.
Fast forward to this year’s trade deadline, and the Steelers were linked to him once again. This time around, with Omar Khan at the helm of things, the black and gold traded for Jackson. They gave up a 2025 conditional sixth-round draft pick, while getting Jackson and a 2025 conditional seventh-rounder in return. Well, two months removed from that trade, he’s yet to appear in a game. His nagging back injury ended up still being an issue by the time he got to Pittsburgh.
CB William Jackson III returned to practice today but remains on the Reserve/Injured List.
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 4, 2023
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The injury forced him to play just four games with Washington this season, and he’s now yet to play for the Steelers. On Wednesday, it was announced that he returned to practice. While he remains on the IR, that provides some optimism for him appearing in his first game with the team. With just one game remaining though, he will need to progress quickly at practice this week.
Steelers cornerback William Jackson defends a pass while with the Cincinnati Bengals. Credit: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Nearly two months ago, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported the team would no longer have to give up that conditional sixth-rounder. Supposedly, the pick inclusion was contingent on Jackson playing a certain number of games with the Steelers. With the black and gold still on the outside looking in, Week 18 seems likely to be the team's last game of the 2022-23 season.
It’s been quite a disappointing few months for Jackson, as he was once seen as one of the better corners in all of football. At this point, he's unlikely to be with the Steelers in 2023, as the team can save $12.75 million by cutting him in February. Perhaps the Steelers could negotiate a cheaper deal with Jackson, while giving him a shot at earning a starting job in training camp.
The cornerback position is a huge question mark in general for the Steelers this upcoming off-season. Cam Sutton will be a free agent who Khan should prioritize re-signing. Ahkello Witherspoon, who signed a two-year, $8 million deal last off-season, could be let go for cheap. Levi Wallace will likely stick around, as he’s been solid in his first season in Pittsburgh. Wallace basically has the same contract numbers as Witherspoon, but has performed much better in 2022.
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Khan may even opt to address the position in the 2023 NFL Draft, as the team needs a true No. 1 corner. Joey Porter Jr., the son of former Steelers linebacker, Joey Porter, has obviously already been linked to his father’s former team. He enjoyed a top-notch season at Penn State this past season, even opting out of his team's Rose Bowl to prepare for the 2023 NFL Draft. Now, he's a projected first-rounder, meaning the Steelers would likely have to take him in the middle of the opening round if they want him.
Should the team bring Jackson back on a cheaper deal next season? Should they try to rush him back into action this weekend? What should Khan do with the CB position in the off-season? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
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