Steelers Encouraged to Acquire Rival’s Starting CB
Steelers Urged to Get Opponent’s Beginning CB
The Pittsburgh Steelers have openings to fill in their optional this offseason. The Grandstand Report NFL exploring office contended that the Steelers could go to an old adversary to address that need.
This offseason, the Bleacher Report team identified Jonathan Jones, a cornerback for the New England Patriots, as one of the Steelers’ top trade targets.
“Jonathan Jones is 30 years of age, and the Nationalists are in reconstruct mode,” Cheap seat Report composed. ” If it saves them money and gives them an extra draft pick, they might be willing to part with the veteran.
Jones has played eight seasons for the Patriots as an undrafted free agent. He was a profundity cornerback in the group when they won the Super Bowl following the 2016 and 2018 seasons.
In 2022, Jones turned into a super durable starter. During 2023, he had 48 consolidated handles and 7 pass protections in 14 games.
How CB Jonathan Jones Could Fit in with the Steelers Jones was not selected by the Auburn Tigers in 2016, but after his rookie season, he signed with the Steelers as a free agent. Jones made the group as a new kid on the block and, surprisingly, began 1 game.
He likewise showed up in each of the three of the group’s season finisher games in 2017.
Jones didn’t turn into an ordinary starter until 2022, however he began no less than 1 game in every one of his initial six seasons. In 2019, he began in 9 challenges and afterward made 7 beginnings during 2020.
In 2023, Jones procured an extremely strong 76.5 player grade at Master Football Concentration. He’s posted essentially a 68.1 player grade at PFF in four of his beyond five seasons.
PFF ranked Jones as the 19th best cornerback in 2023 for having played at least 50% of his team’s defensive snaps. That would be a critical redesign for the Steelers.
Pittsburgh top cornerback, in light of the PFF player grades, was Joey Watchman Jr. with a 65.6 grade.
Cornerback Questions Steelers Face In front of Free Organization
The Steelers have a few choices to make at cornerback this offseason.
The veteran Patrick Peterson is the first big one. While Peterson is under agreement for the 2024 season, there’s been hypothesis that the Steelers could slice him to save $6.85 million against the compensation cap. Peterson is currently six years eliminated from his last Genius Bowl season and will turn 34 in July.
However, the Steelers would have little depth at cornerback if they cut Peterson. In March, cornerbacks Elijah Riley, James Pierre, Chandon Sullivan, and Levi Wallace will all become free agents.
With those potential flights, cornerback has been a famous decision for the Steelers in early false drafts. ESPN’s Mel Kiper opened Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter to Pittsburgh in the principal round of the 2024 NFL draft.
L’Jarius Sneed, a potential free agent cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs, was also mentioned by PFF as a possible destination by the Steelers.
The Steelers appear to have options at cornerback, which is good news. In any case, the group’s compensation circumstance could restrict which ones are conceivable. Spotrac announced the Steelers are more than $14.2 million over the compensation cap.
Jones has two years left on his two-year deal with the Patriots. He is planned to consider a $12.75 million cap hit in 2024.
New Britain can save generally $8.8 million towards the cap by exchanging Jones.
The precise financial details of the deal would need to be worked out by the Patriots and Steelers. However, if the Steelers are prepared to part ways with a respectable draft pick, the Patriots might make Jones a more cost-effective alternative for Pittsburgh.
