New York Giants News & Rumors

Adoree’ Jackson had a lengthy spell on the open market come to an end once he took a visit with the Giants last week. That move immediately resulted in a contract being worked out, one which will allow the veteran corner to resume his New York tenure.

Jackson signed a three-year, $39MM deal in 2021 to join the Giants; he operated as a starting corner throughout that time. 2023 was not a strong season, however, as the 28-year-old allowed a 95.5 passer rating and 65.9% completion percentage in coverage. Allowing his contract to expire in March, the team made other moves in the secondary. The starting CB spot opposite Deonte Banks remained a question mark entering roster cuts, though, and Jackson could reprise his first-team defensive role.

The 28-year-old spoke to the media on Monday while reflecting on his free agency. He said (via Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post) he did not visit any other teams prior to meeting with the Giants. That explains his months-long spell on the market, and it also underscores the mutual interest which existed in a New York reunion. Jackson added he did not make a starting gig a condition of his decision to re-sign, but he did seek out signs from the team that he was “truly wanted back” (h/t Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News).

A full-time starting spot may not be feasible for Jackson in Week 1 given the short turnaround from his signing to the start of the regular season. He will be an option to log at least a rotational in the secondary, though, and he could also make an impact on special teams. With Gunner Olszewski not at full strength, head coach Brian Daboll named Jackson (via Dunleavy) as a candidate to handle punt return duties.

Jackson regularly handled punts during part of his tenure in Tennessee, totaling 50 returns across the 2017 and ’18 seasons. He has not been used in that role very much since then, but 2024 could see him fill in for Olszewski on a temporary basis if needed. Jackson is on a one-year deal, and his value will be determined by his success in whatever role he winds up carving out for himself upon returning to New York.

5:26pm: Jackson has indeed worked out a deal to remain with the Giants in 2024, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report. To no surprise, this will be a one-year agreement. Jackson will have the opportunity to once again serve in a notable role in New York before hitting the open market next spring.

9:25am: Steady updates of Giants concerns about their No. 2 cornerback spot may be leading them back to their previous plan. Although the team was not believed to be eyeing another deal with Adoree’ Jackson during the offseason, it looks like the situation has changed.

Jackson is meeting with the Giants today and is negotiating a deal to return, veteran NFL reporter Jordan Schultz tweets. The last of PFR’s top 50 free agents to remain unsigned, the veteran cornerback may soon have a second Giants contract in place. The former first-round pick started 36 games with the team on his previous deal. Mutual interest exists in a reunion, Schultz adds.

The Giants initially brought in Jackson on a three-year, $39MM deal during Dave Gettleman‘s final offseason in charge. They paired him with 2020 free agency pickup James Bradberry. Those two big-ticket contracts overlapped with Daniel Jones‘ rookie deal. With Jones now in Year 2 of a $40MM-AAV extension, the Giants had scaled back in the secondary. Two years after cutting Bradberry, the team let Xavier McKinney walk in free agency and was not intending to re-sign Jackson. But his replacement candidates have not seized the boundary job opposite 2023 first-rounder Deonte Banks.

Previously pinning their hopes on 2022 third-rounder Cor’Dale Flott — the team’s primary slot corner from 2022-23 — taking over for Jackson outside, the Giants saw the young defender struggle before suffering an injury earlier this month. Flott’s status moved Nick McCloud (11 career starts) into the mix to land the job, but a recent report suggested the Giants were looking into cornerback additions. They added veteran Duke Shelley to their practice squad Thursday; Jackson would qualify as a higher-profile pickup.

Jackson, 29 in September, missed time with an MCL sprain in 2022 but returned to help the Giants contain Justin Jefferson in the team’s wild-card upset. This came after Pro Football Focus had viewed the former Titans first-round pick as a top-20 corner in 2021. The Giants asked Jackson to shift to the slot to accommodate sixth-round rookie Tre Hawkins to open last season. Once Don Martindale benched the Day 3 rookie early in the season, Jackson was back in his old job — with Flott back in the slot — after weeks of inside training. PFF slotted Jackson outside the top 100 among CBs in 2023.

Although the Giants changed defensive systems this offseason, Jackson has experience with new DC Shane Bowen. Drafted during Mike Mularkey‘s HC run, the USC alum’s Tennessee tenure overlapped partially with Bowen’s. The current New York defensive honcho was in place as Titans outside linebackers coach during part of Jackson’s Tennessee tenure. Though, the Titans cut Jackson — who had missed extensive time due to injury in 2020 — ahead of Bowen’s first DC season. This came back when teams could pick up players’ fifth-year options and cut them free of charge. Jackson’s 2017 rookie class was the last to not have their Year 5 options fully guaranteed.

While Chidobe Awuzie and Kendall Fuller found homes quickly as third-contract-seeking CBs, Jackson’s market did not take off. The Giants look close to ending his lengthy free agency stay, however, and providing Bowen some veteran stability at CB2.