With the NFL trade deadline just hours away, the Pittsburgh Steelers can still make improvements to their secondary. There are several exciting names on the trading block, but many are much too expensive for the Steelers to realistically pursue.
After all, Pittsburgh’s trade for Kyle Dugger last week wasn’t one that everyone saw coming. DeShon Elliott’s injury may have forced their hand, but it only took a late pick swap to bring him in. In his first week with the team, he played surprisingly well.
Pittsburgh would relish the opportunity to make a similar improvement in the secondary at a low cost. With Beanie Bishop out of the picture, Darius Slay playing well below the bar, and Jaylen Ramsey effectively moving to safety, the need at cornerback is too much to ignore. Thankfully, they might not need to sell the farm for another addition on the back end.
A cheap, scheme-fitting trade target might give Pittsburgh Steelers' secondary the boost it needs
One name floating in the trade rumor mill is Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones, a third-round pick in 2024 whose drastic dip in playing time boils down to his misplaced fit in the Jaguars' defensive scheme, not because he was the guy Saquon Barkley hit a reverse hurdle over last year.
When Jones was drafted, the Jaguars played more man coverage defensively. He started four games as a rookie and only allowed 67.3% of the passes in his coverage area to be completed. He didn’t give up a touchdown and snagged an interception off Jordan Love.
This year, Jones is only playing a quarter of the Jaguars' defensive snaps as they’ve moved to a more zone-oriented scheme. Still, he’s only allowed seven of 13 passes in his coverage area to be completed, though he did give up the first touchdown of his career.
That said, 71 of his defensive snaps this season came in the first two weeks. He only had six over the next six weeks until Travis Hunter’s injury forced him into action in Week 9.
READ MORE: What Steelers must do (and avoid) as the trade deadline approaches
Hunter’s move to injured reserve could shift Jacksonville’s stance on Jones, but it’s not as though the current regime is married to the idea of keeping him on the roster. New general manager James Gladstone already swapped Tyson Campbell, a 2021 second-round pick, for Greg Newsome II earlier this month, largely because of scheme fit.
The Steelers run a little of everything on the backend, typically dictated by the down, distance, and circumstance. But they run a lot more man coverage these days, so Jones would have a fresh start in a place where he fits the scheme a bit better.
Jones is a better player in the slot than on the boundary, which could play to Pittsburgh’s benefit if they ever do tire of Slay’s struggles on the outside. Brandin Echols played well in the slot himself in Week 9 against the Colts, but letting him take the outside with Jones in the slot could be an option if Slay continues to play below his career standard or one of his weekly injuries keeps him out for an extended time.
The best part about trading for Jones is that he might cost peanuts to trade for. Even as a recent third-round pick, a late pick swap like the Steelers gave to New England in the Dugger trade could be all it takes to boost the depth of the cornerback room while also building for the future of the secondary.