Steelers' Mike Tomlin Exposed After Donte Jackson Trade Collapse: "Didn't Fit The Mold"

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a massive trade ahead of the 2024 season, sending wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for cornerback Donte Jackson. There was a lot of excitement surrounding Jackson, with Head Coach Mike Tomlin leading the charge. Tomlin had long admired Jackson, citing his college days as a time when the team recognized his potential. He even claimed that Jackson would be a great fit for the Steelers' defense.

Jackson certainly had some impressive moments, including five interceptions in 2024. However, his overall performance left much to be desired, with injuries and, most notably, poor coverage grades dragging down his impact. Despite his occasional flashes, the Steelers ultimately decided not to continue their relationship with him. Jackson signed a two-year, $13 million deal to join the Los Angeles Chargers. While this is a common occurrence in the NFL, with players leaving through free agency, the situation is clouded by the way Jackson was initially hyped up.

The real issue, as Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo revealed on the North Shore Drive podcast, is that Jackson was never actually a good fit for the Steelers. Tomlin and the organization had paraded Jackson as a key addition, but it seems their expectations were misplaced. According to Fittipaldo, the reality is that Jackson never truly fit the mold of what the Steelers needed, making the whole situation feel like a misstep in hindsight.

"We know the Steelers and they couldn't do this as much last season with Donte Jackson," Fittipaldo said. "Donte Jackson really didn’t fit the mold of what Pittsburgh wants in their corners now. They are looking for big-range guys who can play man-to-man. Jackson was more of a zone corner and listen, they made it work for a while until he injured his back."

Fittipaldo reveals that Steelers Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin struggled to utilize Jackson in the way they had hoped because he simply wasn’t the type of player they needed. This is particularly puzzling considering the Steelers traded for him knowing exactly what kind of cornerback he was. 

The team brought Jackson in despite being aware that his skillset wouldn’t allow them to implement the coverage schemes they desired. This mismatch raises a lot of questions, especially since it seems like a decision that could have been avoided with better foresight.

"The way Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin want to play is man on the outside," Fittipaldo said. "That is how they want to roll. That is why Cory Trice was such an attractive option to them in the seventh round, even though he had those injuries in college."

The obvious defense for Tomlin, Austin, and the rest of the organization lies in the fact that Johnson was reportedly a problem in the locker room. It seems they were going to trade him no matter what, and perhaps they believed that Jackson offered the best return. That’s a reasonable stance to take, but it doesn’t necessarily justify the trade if it ultimately compromised their secondary and defensive plans.

Steelers Have A Significant Flaw In How They Do Business

Jackson did a solid job initially, but injuries quickly started to pile up. The Steelers clearly weren’t thrilled with his overall performance, or they would’ve made more of an effort to keep him from leaving in free agency. This situation underscores a significant flaw in how the Steelers do business. They traded away an asset for a player they knew wouldn’t fit into their defensive scheme. It’s a move that seems questionable, especially when hindsight shows the mismatch.

At the end of the day, the Steelers’ decision can still be defended. Despite the apparent oversight, you have to trust that the organization did the best they could at the time of the trade. Sometimes, in the fast-paced world of the NFL, things don’t always go as planned, and it’s a reminder that even the best-laid plans can have their flaws.

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