The Pittsburgh Steelers are trading for Jacksonville Jaguars veteran off-ball linebacker Joe Schobert.
Per PFF's Brad Spielberger and Twitter's E_Dilla, Schobert is heading to Pittsburgh via trade, but the Jaguars will still “retain some of his 2021 salary.” The 27-year-old Wisconsin product signed a five-year, $53 million contract with Jacksonville in March 2020.
Schobert's career-best season was in 2018. He earned a 76.8 PFF grade and an 87.7 coverage grade that ranked second only to Seattle Seahawks veteran Bobby Wagner. Since that banner year, Schobert has played 1,000 snaps for two different teams but failed to recapture that magic.
The Steelers needed inside linebacker depth after the abrupt retirement of veteran Vince Williams on the eve of training camp. Devin Bush, who is returning from a torn ACL, and Robert Spillane were penciled in as the current starters. Ulysees Gilbert III, Marcus Allen and fourth-round rookie Buddy Johnson are also on the roster.
Schobert confirmed the trade was in the works, telling ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler
#Jaguars LB Joe Schobert tells ESPN from what he understands a trade sending him to Pittsburgh is in the works now. Doesn't have particulars, still processing. ‘Great place to play behind that D-line,” he said. Mike Tomlin always has been high on Schobert and his coverage ability
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 13, 2021
The Jaguars brought in a new coaching staff this offseason and hired Joe Cullen as defensive coordinator to run a 3-4 defense. Schobert became expendable after the team signed Damien Wilson in the offseason. He had been splitting first-team reps with Schobert throughout training camp.
The exact terms of the trade remain unclear, but the Jaguars are expected to receive a late-round draft pick in return.
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