Steelers Land A Former Captain Who Can Be A Big Mentor To Joey Porter Jr

The Pittsburgh Steelers made the decision to part ways with wide receiver Diontae Johnson and did it in the form of a trade with the Carolina Panthers. After a full week of rumors that Johnson wanted out of Pittsburgh and/or that the team was shopping the former Pro Bowler around, they traded him for cornerback Donte Jackson. 

The full details of the trade, which were broken down by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, detail that the Steelers got Jackson and pick 178, while the Panthers got Johnson and pick 240. The Steelers find themselves in desperate need of a strong, veteran cornerback and will find that in Jackson. But it is more than just about gameplay, Jackson brings something else that is currently missing from the secondary: leadership. 

Steelers General Manager Omar Khan and Head Coach Mike Tomlin are clearly working around the clock, cooking up incredible free agency deals. They have already signed Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Russell Wilson, and linebacking phenom, Patrick Queen. They have also released a number of players, including veteran cornerback, Patrick Peterson. Former Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats, who now hosts a podcast called The Arthur Moats Experience, spoke about the Johnson-Jackson trade, seeing it as a positive move for the Steelers defense. 

"He's been a starter his whole time in Carolina. About 5'10", so good size, but he can fly, he's a fast, fast guy 4.3 type corner, very productive ball hawk with 14 career interceptions. He's been a team captain, that means we got leadership, that means you got somebody that's not afraid to be the front man, that's not afraid to lead by example or be a little vocal. I do like that especially when you think about Patrick Peterson. That's something we're losing out on, so at least you're bringing somebody in that has been a team captain. That should also be able to carry over in terms of keeping that back end mature."

While Peterson was not as productive in Pittsburgh as he was when he was with the Arizona Cardinals, he did support then rookie Joey Porter Jr. and provide leadership to the Steelers secondary. With Peterson being released, Jackson is able to step up into that leadership role. 

Jackson was a second round draft pick in 2018, the same draft class as Johnson, out of LSU. As Moats pointed out, Jackson has had 14 interceptions, but none of them came in 2023. He has 303 total tackles, one sack, three forced fumbles and 48 pass deflections. He has even scored a defensive touchdown. 

While fans took to social media to complain that the Steelers didn't get enough for Johnson, they are not considering the caliber of cornerback that Jackson is. Khan was able to move a player with solid trade value, that won't get used as much in Arthur Smith's offense as he would want and acquire someone that fills a major need. In addition, the Steelers moved their last pick up from the seventh round to the sixth round.

Did The Steelers Seal Patrick Peterson's Fate With The Donte Jackson Signing?

On his own podcast, All Things Covered, Peterson told his co-host, former Steelers cornerback, and his cousin, Bryant McFadden, that he was shocked by his release. He said that he was just coming off a cruise with his family and was caught off guard by the call. A few days later, he was able to speak with Tomlin and felt encouraged by that conversation. 

Peterson said that his pitch to Tomlin included an offer to come back for less money if needed. He added that he feels that it would be beneficial for the team to bring him back to support Porter. But now with Jackson joining the team, that could make Peterson's return less likely. 

Having just finished up his 13th season in the NFL, the eight-time Pro Bowler Peterson has been at the top of the league for many years. A three-time First Team All-Pro, he was considered one of the best at his position. 

What do you think about the Jackson-Johnson trade? Click to comment below. 

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