Steelers acquire former Pro Bowl linebacker Joe Schobert from Jaguars, per report

The former Brown is coming back to the AFC North

In the middle of the their second preseason game, reports surfaced that the Steelers had come to terms on a trade with Jacksonville for veteran inside linebacker Joe Schobert. The Steelers will send late-round draft draft compensation to Jacksonville in exchange for Schobert, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. 

The 27-year-old inside linebacker spent the 2020 season in Jacksonville after spending his first four NFL seasons in Cleveland. He is just one year into a five-year, $53.75 million contract he signed last offseason. Schobert is due $7.3 million in guaranteed base salary for the 2021 season. 

In 77 regular-season games, the former fourth-round pick has tallied 549 tackles, 11 sacks, nine interceptions, 24 passes defensed, nine forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. During his only season in Jacksonville, the 6-foot-1, 245-pound veteran recorded 141 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three interceptions (one that was returned for a touchdown) and two forced fumbles. 

Schobert made four starts as a rookie before breaking the Browns' starting lineup in 2017, his second season. He received his first Pro Bowl nod that season after leading the NFL with 144 tackles. He also forced three fumbles that season while recording three sacks. The Steelers saw first hand how disruptive Schobert can be during his time with the Browns. In Cleveland's 2019 regular-season win over the Steelers, Schobert recorded 10 tackles, a sack and two interceptions off Mason Rudolph. 

The acquisition of Schobert will add depth to an inside linebacker unit that lost Vince Williams to retirement at the start of training camp. Pittsburgh's inside linebacker corps currently consists of starters Robert Spillane and Devin Bush along with reserves Marcus Allen, Ulysees Gilbert III, Tegray Scales and rookie Buddy Johnson. 

Scobert was college teammates at Wisconsin with Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt and fullback Derek Watt. He is the second former Pro Bowl defender the Steelers have signed in recent weeks. On July 20, the Steelers signed outside linebacker Melvin Ingram, a three-time Pro Bowler during his years with the Chargers.