So, how’s the other end of the Diontae Johnson trade doing?
Former Carolina Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson is currently acclimating to life as a Pittsburgh Steeler. He spoke with reporters after Thursday’s outing of team organized activities, and was asked how that transition is going.
“It’s been great,” he replied. “It’s a football building. It’s just great to get in here with these guys and just learn the system and just learn the Steeler way, learn how everybody do things. It’s been amazing though. Everything I thought it would be when I first found out that I got traded here.”
He got traded there back on March 12. The swap saw Jackson and the 2024 draft’s 178th overall pick swing over to the Steel City in exchange for Johnson and the 240th selection.
Jackson was then asked about having to learn a new defense.
“I played in Carolina for all my career, but I’ve had five different defensive systems that I had to be in,” he said. “So even though I was in the same uniform, I still had to make sure we honed in those details. And so it’s kinda the same way here. Just making sure you learn every little detail. You understanding the language, ’cause that be the biggest thing when you learning new defenses.”
The 2017 second-round pick spent his first six NFL seasons in Carolina, where (as stated) he had to learn five different systems. Jackson played under defensive coordinators Steve Wilks (2017), Eric Washington (2018-2019), Phil Snow (2020-2022), Al Holcomb (2022) and Ejiro Evero (2023).
But hopefully, at least for Donte’s sake, things will be a lot more stable in his new digs.
