The Green Bay Packers believe in drafting and developing. So even Day 3 picks have a pretty good chance of making the team’s roster.
But this summer, sixth-round rookie cornerback Domani Jackson didn’t make the cut.
On Sunday, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported the Packers waived Jackson as part of their roster trimming. All NFL teams have to cut their rosters to 53 players by 6 pm ET Sunday.
The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman added context to just how rare a cut Jackson was. Under general manager Brian Gutekunst, Jackson is just the third of 14 sixth-rounders to not make the team as a rookie.
Overall, though, his release isn’t surprising. Jackson struggled for a large part of the preseason. SI on Packers’ Bill Huber routinely included the sixth-rounder on the team’s roster bubble or potential cut list.
Part of why he struggled was a core muscle injury. Jackson missed part of the team’s offseason workouts because of the ailment.
During the 2026 NFL Draft process, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein commended the cornerback for his size and athleticism. The question was whether Jackson could develop more consistency.
“Jackson is a smooth athlete with good size and elite track speed,” Zierlein wrote. “In totality, the play and production have failed to match the traits dating back to his days at USC (2022-2023), but his 2024 tape gives evaluators the best look at his ceiling. He can disrupt from press but can be a step slow to transition in-phase from man.
“Tampa 2 and deep-zone coverages suit him best. Scheme won’t matter as much as consistency and confidence for Jackson, though.”
Packers Release CB Domani Jackson: Report
Again, Jackson’s release doesn’t come as a shock. The Packers had a deep enough cornerback room during the preseason that pundits speculated about the team trading away a defensive back.
Jackson always appeared to be on the outside looking in.
The Packers selected Jackson at No. 201 overall in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He played college football at USC and Alabama.
Last season, he posted 39 combined tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss with one pass defense in 15 games for the Crimson Tide. His best statistical season came in 2024 when he had 52 combined tackles, seven pass defenses and two interceptions.
As Zenitz mentioned, Jackson is a player to watch for the Packers practice squad. NFL teams will begin filling out those practice squads Sunday night and likely complete them Monday.
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