The New York Giants’ search for an experienced starter at outside cornerback ended where it pretty much began — with them landing back on Adoree’ Jackson.
Jackson, 28, played the last three seasons with Big Blue and was not re-signed after his contract expired in March. In fact, Jackson reportedly was not pursued by hardly any teams this past offseason.
Perhaps Jackson was monitoring the Giants’ situation and waited for them to finally call. That happened on Friday when he signed a one-year deal with the team. The terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed.
BREAKING: Free agent CB Adoree' Jackson is signing with the #Giants, per sources.
Jackson had 8 PBUs and a pick-six last season with New York. https://t.co/Fl66v3NzJx pic.twitter.com/rjef5CiX1s
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 30, 2024
Jackson knows the Giants and their new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen from their time together in Tennessee. On the surface, it looks like a solid match.
But there’s a reason why Jackson was still on the market and why the Giants took so long to bring him back into the fold. From NBC Sports:
Jackson was routinely picked on by opposing quarterbacks in 2023. His 19.1 percent targeted rate ranks fourth-highest among 65 NFL cornerbacks with at least 415 coverage snaps. He surrendered league-high rates in both yards allowed per coverage snap (1.75) and explosive pass plays allowed rate (4.4 percent). The Giants’ secondary needed help but Jackson’s best days are likely far behind him.
The Giants hope not. They are very thin on the outside at corner with the experiment to slide slot man Cor’Dale Flott into the role gone kaput due to injury and Nick McCloud not quite cutting the mustard.
The Giants whiffed on landing a sufficient corner on the waiver wire this week and, obviously, warmed up the idea of bringing Jackson back.
What really needs to happen is for Flott to blossom and for Tre Hawkins III to improve. That could take time. This might be the one area general manager Joe Schoen failed to upgrade this offseason.
