The New York Giants will be relying on Adoree’ Jackson to be their No. 1 cornerback in 2022 after parting ways with James Bradberry this offseason due to salary cap constraints.
Jackson is entering the second year of what many see as an ‘over-the-market’ three-year free agent deal worth $39 million.
Jackson began his career as a first-round draft pick of the Tennessee Titans only to have the team release him before last season rather than pay his $48 million fifth-year option.
The former USC standout recently told Steve Smith Sr. during an episode of the Cut To It podcast that his release came down to him not gaining favor with Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, who was brought in after Jackson was drafted.
“We didn’t jell. It didn’t mesh right. My play didn’t work and the way he was coaching didn’t work for me,” Jackson said.
Jackson still played at a high level, although some would argue that he was a shade below first-round expectations. The Giants see him as a cornerstone, however, and have hung their collective hats on him for the near future.
“Since 2019, he boasts the fifth-lowest target rate in the NFL at just 12%. Last season, in his first with the Giants, Jackson posted a PFF grade of 74.9 — up from 58.7 the year before,” writes Jared Greenspan of the New York Post.
But Jackson is still a reflecting a bit on his time in Tennessee and Vrabel, who he now has a newfound respect for.
“The thing he taught us the most was about second chances,” Jackson said. “He was like, ‘Man, a lot of people don’t get second chances. If you do, make sure you make the most of it.’ I say that all the time now. . . At the end of the day, even though we didn’t mesh as a player and coach, as people, I can resonate with some of the things he was saying. At the end of the day, I can never bash him or say anything bad.”
Jackson has his second chance staring him down here with the Giants. Only 26, he can make that second chance count in a big way as the Giants aim to become contenders again.
