Donte Jackson is the latest cornerback to find a new home on Monday. The veteran has an agreement in place with the Chargers, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
This will be a two-year deal, Schefter adds. Jackson can earn $13MM on his latest pact. After a one-and-done season in Pittsburgh, he will look to secure a starting role on a Chargers team which may lose Asante Samuel Jr. in the near future.
Samuel has yet to sign anywhere just yet, but after a four-game 2024 season, the second-generation NFL corner — who obviously spent much more time in Brandon Staley’s defense than Jesse Minter’s — may heading out of L.A. soon. Enter Jackson, who will relocate for a second straight offseason. After being part of Diontae Johnson‘s first of many 2024 transactions, Jackson will join a Chargers team that also has Kristian Fulton out of contract.
Although the Steelers re-signed Cameron Sutton after his offseason arrest led to a Lions release, Jackson logged a higher snap share on defense. Jackson, 29, started all 15 games he played with the Steelers and played 82% of the team’s defensive snaps. He intercepted five passes for Mike Tomlin’s team.
The Chargers are in disagreement with Pro Football Focus re: Jackson, as the advanced metrics site graded him 110th overall at corner (among regulars) last season. Perhaps illustrating how far we still need to go for reliable coverage metrics, Pro-Football-Reference tagged Johnson with a solid 59.7% completion rate allowed and an above-average 69.9 passer rating as the closest defender.
Jackson had previously signed a three-year, $35.18MM extension with the Panthers, starting 76 games with the team that made him a second-round pick. The Bolts saw rookie-year promise from Tarheeb Still but have some work to do at corner even after the Jackson addition.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Steelers signing Slay. No loss with this guy
5 interceptions last year. Not bad. Add him to the two rookie cb’s,the two stud safety’s and the Chargers will have a really good secondary.