The Pittsburgh Steelers have been linked to cornerback William Jackson III for quite some time. After missing out on him in the 2016 NFL Draft and in free agency in 2021, they finally got their guy. By then, it was no longer Kevin Colbert as the main guy making moves, rather Omar Khan as the team's general manager. That didn't stop him from acquiring the six-year corner in a trade back in November just ahead of the deadline.
Omar Khan is introduced as the Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager at a press conference at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Friday, May 27, 2022 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Abigail Dean/Pittsburgh Steelers)
Jackson dealt with an ailing back injury with the Washington Commanders all season long. He played in just four games total as a result. Amidst the injury, he became disgruntled with his time in Washington. That's when he appeared on the trade market. When asked, on his mailbag, what players may be let go as a result of cap savings, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette had this to say:
"Granted, some will be gone, like Jackson," Dulac said about the Steelers CB. "They will not keep him, nor did they intend to."
After coming to Pittsburgh, the back injury continued to sideline Jackson. He was subsequently placed on the IR and never appeared in a game for the black and gold in 2022. He may not at all if Dulac is correct in this assessment. Khan will have some big-time decisions to make in the team's secondary this offseason, which includes Jackson.
Levi Wallace may be the only CB from this year's team that is pretty much guaranteed to be back next season. After a slow transition at the beginning of the year, Wallace eventually got his feet under him and ended with a career-high four interceptions and 13 pass deflections in 15 games. Ahkello Witherspoon's spot isn't necessarily guaranteed after he was injured for a majority of the season.
Credit: Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
Cam Sutton, the team's best corner this year, is a free agent and may demand a decent amount of money. The uncertainties may be Jackson's only chance of returning to Pittsburgh, as Khan will have to decide between a few options. While he hasn't performed at an elite level in a few years now, Jackson was one of the best DBs in the NFL at one point.
Do you think Khan should try and bring Jackson back? What CBs do you want to see the team retain or go after in free agency? Would you address this position early in the 2023 NFL Draft? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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