There are many fans who believe the Pittsburgh Steelers have a glaring hole at cornerback remaining on their roster. They absolutely aren’t alone, but these people might also be underscoring how the Steelers feel about Donte Jackson, the man the Steelers received in the Diontae Johnson trade with the Carolina Panthers.

Jackson is capable of playing on the outside, and has versatility to combine with his experience in the league. Nonetheless, when Jackson found out he was traded, and heard he was going to Pittsburgh, he was excited. So, how has it been so far throughout the offseason and the first two weeks of Phase III of Organized Team Activities (OTAs)?

“It’s been great. This is a football building,” said Jackson. “It’s great to get in here with these guys, learn the system, learn the Steelers way and how everybody does things. It’s been amazing

“It’s everything I thought it would be when I first found out I got traded here.”

Like many players who come to Pittsburgh, one of the main attractions is the team’s head coach. Sure, the six Lombardi trophies are impressive, but players have been open and honest about how they want to play for Mike Tomlin. Jackson was someone who admired him from afar, so you have to wonder if Tomlin lived up to the hype?

“When you are on the outside looking in, you think exactly what you see in interviews,” said Jackson. “You think he is a very genuine guy. He loves football. He loves the Steelers.

“When you get here, that is exactly what it is. He is a very transparent guy on how he feels, what he likes, what he doesn’t. He is a football guy. He is a big reason for the standard and the culture being the way it is.

“Just being here a few weeks, being in the team meetings and seeing him walk around, how he engages with guys. It’s everything you thought it would be. It’s a blessing being here. You get to see that type of greatness from players and coaches too up close. It’s been a great experience.”

The Steelers are putting a lot of stock into Jackson to become a worthwhile member of the secondary, and potentially the CB2 to go alongside the CB1 in Joey Porter Jr. At this stage of the offseason it’s easy to suggest he can fill the shoes left by Patrick Peterson and Levi Wallace last season, but he’ll have to prove his worth when it matters, starting at training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA in July.

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the 2024 regular season.