Steelers Have A Unique Opportunity To Bring Back A Pair Of Cornerbacks Following The Injury To Cory Trice Jr. In 2023

The Pittsburgh Steelers seemed to have high expectations for 2023 seventh-round draft pick, Cory Trice Jr., during his rookie campaign. Unfortunately, these expectations disappeared in a matter of moments when he suffered a non-contact lower body injury, which landed him on season-ending injury reserve. While Trice was far from a lock to make the team in 2023, there is no denying that his loss affects the team's depth at cornerback. Apart from the trio of Patrick Peterson, Levi Wallace, and Joey Porter Jr., there is not another player at the position who is guaranteed to land on the 53-man roster. 

The Steelers already added to the defensive back room following the loss of Trice, signing both Isaiah Dunn and Trenton Simpson on August 2. Both players will have the opportunity to prove their worth over the coming weeks, but will likely not make it past roster cuts, barring a tremendous showing in training camp and preseason. In past seasons, the Steelers have typically carried either five or six cornerbacks on the active roster. With the top three already set in place, this leaves two, possibly three, spots available for players such as James Pierre, Chandon Sullivan, Madre Harper, Luq Barcoo, and Chris Wilcox. Needless to say, not exactly a household list of names. 

Pierre, who has appeared in 50 games, including six starts with the Steelers over the course of his three seasons in Pittsburgh, is a strong candidate to remain due to his special teams ability. However, he has struggled with consistency on the defensive side of the ball and is certainly susceptible to being replaced, possibly by a player who is not currently on the team's roster. Interestingly enough, there are a pair of free agent cornerbacks available who have ties to the Steelers and could be viable options to help fill the void left behind by Trice. 

Steelers May Call Upon A Few Familiar Faces In Free Agency

Perhaps the most logical available cornerback to return to the Steelers is Josh Jackson, who appeared in four games with the team in 2022. His lone start came against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6, where an injury-riddled secondary somehow found a way to beat the Tom Brady-led team by a score of 20-18. A former second-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in the 2018 NFL Draft, Jackson has 16 career starts, most of which came during his rookie season. 

He has for the most part failed to live up to the expectations of being a second-round selection, but still seems to have plenty of gas left in the tank at only 27 years old. Furthermore, his familiarity with the team's defense should also be taken into consideration. Assuming he is healthy, Jackson could potentially round out the defensive back room nicely. 

Another option is William Jackson III, who was acquired by the Steelers via a trade with the Washington Commanders in 2022. A former first-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2016, Jackson failed to ever play a single snap in Pittsburgh. He was released by the Steelers in March of 2023 to create cap space. He has reportedly declared himself to be "100%" healthy and is in the market to sign with a team. 

Durability is undoubtedly Jackson's biggest downfall, as he has only appeared in 16 total games over the past two seasons. Furthermore, at 30 years old, the Steelers may very well look elsewhere when it comes to depth at defensive back. However, when healthy, the former first-round pick is a physically imposing cornerback who could potentially find his way back to Pittsburgh if the situation presents itself.