Jaguars set to trade LB Joe Schobert to Pittsburgh Steelers

The Jaguars will look a little different in its front seven this year as Joe Schobert is set to head to Pittsburgh.

The Jaguars are set to send linebacker Joe Schobert to the Pittsburgh Steelers, first reported by Eric Dillard on Twitter, and confirmed by multiple outlets, including Big Cat Country.

The compensation that Jacksonville will be receiving is not yet known.

The Jaguars signed Schobert to a sizable contract last offseason, worth five years, $53,750,000 with $21.5M guaranteed, including a $12M signing bonus. He would go on to play in and start all 16 games for the Jaguars, who would finish with a record of 1-15 last year.

Schobert finished the year accounting for 141 tackles (84 solo), six tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and three interceptions. He would be one of the most productive defenders in Jacksonville by the season’s end.

According to OverTheCap.com, trading Schobert now would save the Jaguars $7,482,353 with $2,400,000 in dead money. He is currently owed $7,000,000 in base salary and has a $300,000 per-game roster bonus.

Though it is likely the Jaguars and Steelers come to an agreement as far as monetary compensation is concerned.

Since then, Jacksonville has undergone a makeover, starting fresh with a new general manager in Trent Baalke and a new head coach in Urban Meyer. The team’s defensive scheme has also shifted from a 4-3 base to a 3-4 base.

Jacksonville signed linebacker Damien Wilson over the offseason, ultimately making Schobert expendable.

Jaguars inside linebackers coach/assistant head coach Charlie Strong spoke highly of Wilson not long after camp opened, mentioning how versatile of a player he was. He has played and moved around from MIKE to WILL in the Jaguars’ base defense, often rotating with Schobert during team drills.

“Great attitude and the good thing about him coming in from Kansas City — he has won so he has proven he has won so the guys have a lot of respect for him,” said Strong.

This will be the first major move the Jaguars have made under Meyer, something the team will hope helps them moving forward.