The Steelers’ trade for William Jackson did not end up leading to any playing time. Unsurprisingly, the team is moving on. The Steelers are releasing Jackson, per The Score’s Jordan Schultz (on Twitter). 
Jackson has gone from signing an eight-figure-per-year contract to being jettisoned by two teams over the past few months. Washington sent the veteran cornerback to Pittsburgh for a low-end return at the deadline. An injury kept Jackson off the field, and he will head back to free agency two years after hitting the market as one of the top players available.
This transaction will result in the Steelers saving $12.2MM, making it one of the more obvious cost-saving moves during this year’s cut wave. Jackson was attached to a three-year, $40.5MM deal, but the Commanders began to backtrack early last season. While Jackson fared well with the Bengals, the 30-year-old cover man’s career is at a crossroads.
Washington remains responsible for $9MM of Jackson’s 2023 money, and the Washington Post’s Sam Fortier notes the conditions of the trade not being met will not give the NFC East team the right to swap picks with Pittsburgh in the 2025 seventh round (Twitter link). The Commanders ended up saving $2.77MM — the remainder of Jackson’s 2022 base salary — but this will go down as a significant free agency miss for the team.
Cornerback has long been considered a position of need for the Steelers heading into free agency, regardless of if they are able to retain Cameron Sutton. The 28-year-old figures to have plenty of suitors on the open market, after he notched three interceptions and 15 pass breakups in 2022, both career-highs. Jackson will not play into Pittsburgh’s plans if Sutton departs.
Jackson has more than $46MM in career earnings to date, but a more modest contract than the past two he has played on surely awaits him in the near future. Sutton, along with the likes of James Bradberry and recent cuts such as Shaquill Griffin and Ronald Darby, headline the options in the 2023 free agency class. Jackson will slot in behind those names, but his previous success could land him a deal allowing him to rebuild at least some of his value.
Got cooked too many times in Washington
Wouldn’t be surprised to see the Steelers resign him on a 1yr prove it deal (if he’s healthy)
yep. thats part of the reason he was brought in (to get a better look)
But he didn’t play. I guess they wanted to see how well he rode the stationary bike
we got to see that.. they got to see much more
What did they get to see? If the guy was too injured to play, then they didn’t get to see his true self. Do you Steeler fans ever admit anything?
they got to see him naked in the shower duh
Minnesota could make sense. They need press man corners for Flores and Jackson struggles at everything else.
So basically Pittsburgh gave Washington a draft pick and paid the guy, albeit a small amount, for not playing a down? Dumb move
The claypool trade more than makes up for it… the Jackson trade at the time included late round pick swaps. A 6th for a conditional 7th or something similar
Apples and oranges. Yeah, they did well for themselves with the Claypool trade, but if they don’t re-sign this guy at a cheaper rate they basically gave a puck away for nothing. And let’s face it, this team has many holes and can’t afford to lose picks
A puck? Sheesh
Actually, I guess now they don’t have to give up the draft pick at all, so no harm, no foul.
I’m pretty sure the picks got voided since he never played a down.
Didnt read the article. The Steelers gave up nothing because trade conditions not met.
Thanks to both you and 2012orioles. I need a remedial reading course, it would appear
Nbd. And yeah I don’t think it was in the article at first
That was not in the original article