The Steelers appeared to be sellers when they traded Chase Claypool to the Bears for a second-round pick ahead of the 2022 NFL trade deadline.
However, they also took the opportunity to buy low on a once-prominent free agent.
The Steelers acquired cornerback William Jackson III from the Commanders on Tuesday in exchange for a draft pick.
Jackson was a first-round pick by the Bengals during the 2016 NFL Draft. He hit free agency following the 2020 NFL season, and he was viewed as one of the best cornerbacks on the market. Washington scooped him up in the hopes that he would turn into the team’s No. 1 corner.
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That didn’t happen, as Jackson struggled during his year-and-a-half with the Commanders. He had trouble fitting into more of a zone-heavy scheme and dealt with a back injury that sidelined him during what would have been his final games with the Commanders.
Now, Jackson will get a fresh start, Washington will get an asset in exchange for him and the Steelers will buy low on a talented player.
Just what did the Steelers trade in order to get the Commanders cornerback? Here’s what to know about the pre-NFL trade deadline trade between these two teams.
LIVE: Follow all NFL trade deadline action for 2022
William Jackson III trade details
Steelers get:
- CB William Jackson III
- Conditional 2025 seventh-round pick
Commanders get:
- Conditional 2025 sixth-round pick
The Steelers got Jackson on the cheap from the Commanders because it was known that the two sides were preparing to move on from one another.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler had reported earlier in the day that the Commanders were preparing to release Jackson if they were unable to trade him. However, the Steelers were willing to swoop in and trade a late-round pick for another to acquire the veteran cornerback.
The Steelers are in need of cornerback help, as they have struggled at the position throughout the 2022 season. Their latest defeat — a 35-13 thrashing at the hands of the Eagles — showcased that they simply cannot contain No. 1 receivers. Jackson will be tasked with helping to fix that.
While Jackson struggled during his time in Washington, he was once Cincinnati’s top cornerback and averaged 10.3 pass defenses per season with the Bengals. He simply wasn’t as good a fit for the zone-heavy scheme that Washington was running.
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Pittsburgh should be a better fit for Jackson. The Steelers have long been tied to him, as they were expected to select him in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft before the Bengals beat them to the punch by one pick.
So, the Steelers are taking a calculated risk in acquiring him. He is halfway through the three-year, $40.5 million contract he signed with the Commanders, and while Washington will pay some of that, the Steelers will be on the hook for his $9.25 million base salary in 2023 at a minimum.
If Jackson pans out, then the Steelers will be glad they took a chance on the 30-year-old. If not, then the team may have to eat some money to release him during the 2023 NFL offseason.
