Joey Porter Jr. has yet to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season, and the “will he, won’t he” saga is getting old. The team has persevered with him on the sideline, turning to Asante Samuel Jr. and free agent addition Jamel Dean with mostly positive results.
While every week feels like Porter is nearing a return, the team also can’t be content with the fact that he has played these games for this long.
A trade still feels viable given the distaste in both camps. If that materializes, the Steelers will need to find a quality replacement for him.
Adoree’ Jackson is the most obvious name. He should be on the short list for the Steelers if they decide to part ways with their young standout cornerback.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could quickly replace Joey Porter Jr. with Adoree’ Jackson
While Jackson is no longer the dynamic defender that he once was, he still showed some meat on the bone in Philadelphia last year. His 54.4 PFF score is evidence that his best days may be behind him.
However, he doesn’t need to come in and start every down. Samuel is more than holding his own at cornerback. Rookie Daylen Everette has also looked good in his limited opportunities.
If Porter departs, the Steelers will want a cornerback who can step in on defense when called upon. That is the perfect role for Jackson as is.
He has inside and outside versatility (although his primary calling card in the NFL has been as an outside cornerback). While inconsistent at times, he has also looked like a dependable second option for most of his career.
Perhaps the most intriguing fit for him is as a returner. The Steelers have lacked success there, and Jackson has consistently been a good option to return kicks and punts.
No, he won’t instantly take Kaden Wetjen’s job, but he can settle in with him as a kick returner and push the rookie on punt returns.
Most importantly, he provides an experienced option to call upon if injuries were to strike. While Jackson is no longer a great defender, he can keep his head above water for a few games if the injury bug strikes.
The biggest downside to his game is his lack of special teams value besides his work in the return game. However, this team is full of special team’s specific players, so having an emergency depth option who doesn’t shine there is fine.
While I’m not advocating for a Porter trade, I’ve grown tired of this childish game and see the writing on the wall. If the right deal materializes, the Steelers can ship out Porter and replace him with Jackson, who can serve as quality depth in the cornerback room.
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