Steelers releasing former first-round pick who never played for them
Pittsburgh traded for the veteran last season, but it never worked out.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are clearing out salary cap space by releasing cornerback William Jackson III.
Per Jordan Schultz of The Score, Jackson's release will save Pittsburgh over $12 million in cap space.
A first-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals back in 2016, Jackson was traded to Pittsburgh during the 2022 season, but he never played a snap for the Black and Yellow. Jackson spent the first half of the season with the Washington Commanders, who originally signed him to a three-year, $40.5 million contract back in 2021.
The Steelers gave Washington a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick for Jackson right before the trade deadline. The veteran cornerback only practiced a handful of times before being placed on the Reserve/Injured list with a back injury.
Before the Commanders, Jackson was a solid defensive back for the Bengals. In 2017, his first year playing, he allowed a passer rating of just 36.1 when targeted. He would go on to start 48 games for Cincinnati before leaving in the 2021 offseason. Jackson also did his best to burn his bridge back to the Queen City that year.
Pittsburgh will surely be looking at adding cornerbacks this offseason in addition to re-signing Cameron Sutton in free agency.
Now 30 years old, Jackson will hit the free agent market for the second time in his career, on the lookout for his third team in two years.
