Getty Cornerback Adoree' Jackson.
The New York Giants struck gold last offseason when they landed eventual Pro Bowl cornerback James Bradberry in free agency. This time around, they’ll look to fill the void opposite of him.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Jordan Raanan, the team is expected to host free-agent cornerback Adoree Jackson for a visit. The former Tennessee Titans first-round pick is widely perceived as the top corner remaining on the market and “will not come cheap,” per Raanan.
The G-Men appear to have some intra-divisional competition when it comes to potentially acquiring the services of Jackson. ESPN’s Josina Anderson has reported the cornerback is discussing a visit with the Giants on Sunday, yet could meet with NFC East foes, the Philadelphia Eagles, after that. Jackson is working around his mother’s birthday, meaning the timeline for his visits could get pushed into next week.
Jackson, 25, was part of a two-man cut in Tennessee last week which included starting tackle Dennis Kelly. The move cleared nearly $17 million in cap space for the Titans in 2021. Fittingly enough, the team used some of that extra spending money on former Giants second-team All-Pro corner Janoris Jenkins.
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One of the Best Remaining Free Agents on the Market
The 18th-overall selection in 2017 out of USC, Jackson played in 46 games (41 starts) for the Titans over the last four seasons. The former Jim Thorpe Award Winner (top defensive back in college football) was limited to just three games in 2020 due to a knee injury. However, over the three seasons prior, Jackson averaged a highly-respectable overall Pro Football Focus grade of 74.8 — never once grading lower than 73.0 in a single season.
Over the entirety of his Titans tenure, Jackson amassed 200 total tackles, two interceptions, 33 passes defended, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. The former track star is also a major threat with the football in his hands. A two-way star during his college days in Southern California, Jackson averaged 23.1 yards per kick return as a rookie — sixth-most in the NFL. He’s handled 80 total (kick & punt) returns in his career, collecting 1,127 all-purpose yards.
Jackson, who checked in at No. 36 on NFL.com’s initial Top 101 NFL free agents of 2021, is currently the seventh-best remaining free agent on the board and the top-ranked defensive back.
Jackson Has History With Giants Star Logan Ryan
Before Logan Ryan made his way to East Rutherford a season ago, the former Rutgers star spent two seasons playing alongside Jackson in Nashville — a time that Jackson is clearly grateful for.
“When I came in, (Ryan) is one of the guys I leaned on a lot to help me out,” Jackson said of Ryan in May of 2020. “I told him I appreciate him more than he knows. He was there for me, the big brother that you need. I was sad. But in the world of football, every time we get a team, we understand it is not going to be the same next year.”
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