Top 5 free agents that the Steelers must sign in 2022

Steelers may sign Jackson

The first of two “big names”, Donte Jackson would be a great fit for a Steelers secondary that is lacking speed. His ability to track receivers and keep up with some of the best athletes is a huge plus for him as a player. The agility and straight-line speed that he has been lacking from some of the other members of the cornerback room, so adding Jackson just from that point would make sense.

Beyond just his speed, Jackson is a well-established coverage cornerback that can make smart reads in both zone and man schemes. He has a knack for taking the ball away on top of all of this, making Jackson one of the younger true top options in the game. He is only 26 right now as well, meaning that he should have at least four more great seasons ahead of him.

While names like J.C. Jackson or Carlton Davis are superior players, they will likely cost at least 5 million more a season than what Jackson will get. Due to him being perceived as that “next wave” of free agent corner should yield a more team-friendly deal. His speed and coverage ability would be welcomed on this defense and frankly, is needed for a team tasked with covering Ja’Marr Chase twice a season.