No-brainer cuts Steelers should make in the 2023 offseason

Jackson never saw the field for the Steelers

William Jackson was a very typical Steelers addition at the trade deadline. A player that they had seemingly coveted in the draft, the team swapped late-round picks with the Commanders to acquire his services. An injury landed him on the reserve list which canceled out the trade details (meaning the Steelers got him for nothing), but it also means he didn’t have a chance to prove himself with the team.

Jackson’s cap hit shoots up to almost 13 million in 2023, and given his age and recent struggles, the team can’t justify keeping him around at that price tag. They have gotten some strong play out of James Pierre and Levi Wallace, so having a veteran at that price tag seems unwise. That money would be better spent on Cameron Sutton.

I do think there is a scenario where Jackson is released and eventually circles back on a much cheaper deal, but the team would be foolish to keep him around at his current cap price tag. Had he been able to play and had looked like the star he was before the Commanders signed him would be one thing, but a 13 million-dollar gamble on an aging cornerback is a move the team can’t afford to make.