For years, the Pittsburgh Steelers have had an interest in cornerback William Jackson III. They didn't get him in the 2016 NFL Draft, as the Cincinnati Bengals scooped him up just before Pittsburgh was on the clock. Just a few months ago, the black and gold finally got their guy. After four games with the Washington Commanders, Jackson requested a trade in just his second season with the team.
The Steelers stepped in just before the trade deadline ended and acquired him. Unfortunately, he never saw the field after that due to an ongoing back injury. According to Jordan Schultz of TheScore, the team will officially be releasing Jackson.
That comes as no surprise, as it seemed to only be a matter of time before Jackson was cut loose. In fact, it was surprising that the news took this long to come out. With the cornerback position still a prevalent need for the team, it'll be interesting to see if the team tries to bring him back on a cheaper deal. If you remember, Jackson signed a three-year, $40.5 million deal with the Commanders just two offseasons ago. The move will save the Steelers 12.1 million in cap room.
Could the Steelers bring Jackson back?
Injuries derailed his time in Washington, as his production on the field declined as well. That wasn't enough for a guy who signed a deal to become one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in the NFL. Now 30 years old with a nagging back injury, Jackson won't command much at all on the free agent market. Due to that, it wouldn't be a shock if the Steelers at least entertained a reunion.
As for what's next, Pittsburgh's front office isn't done with the cornerback room. Cam Sutton is a free agent, and he'll demand quite a bit of money. Additionally, Ahkello Witherspoon, who signed an extension last offseason, is one to watch. The team could either restructure his deal or cut ties with him altogether as well. At this point, especially after the week in Indianapolis, it seems quite obvious that the team will be drafting a cornerback in the 2023 NFL Draft.
In the same media release the Steelers also released injured cornerback Carlins Platel.
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