Former Steelers CB Donte Jackson signs with the Chargers
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been patient, as always, during the first wave of NFL Free Agency, and in the process they’ve seen some of their own Unrestricted Free Agents (UFAs) sign with other teams. Earlier Monday the team lost Dan Moore Jr. to the Tennessee Titans, Justin Fields to the New York Jets, and you can add another name to that list in cornerback Donte Jackson.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Jackson has agree to terms with the Los Angeles Chargers. Schefter is reporting the deal to be 2-years and valued at $13 million dollars.
Jackson’s time in Pittsburgh was brief, only for the 2024 season after being a part of the Diontae Johnson trade with the Carolina Panthers, but did make an impact on the outside.
Last season Jackson played in 15 games and totaled 38 tackles, 5 INTs, 1 Fumble Recovery and 8 passes defensed. To say Jackson was “around the ball” was an understatement. However, Jackson’s season was also injury-plagued and he was in and out of the lineup due to multiple back issues.
The Steelers lose out on another free agent, and if Jackson’s deal will be considered a qualifying offer in the compensatory formula has yet to be seen. It also depends on what the Steelers do in signing their own free agents. In other words, be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the rest of free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jeff… I am starting to feel quite disheartened. Like farabaugh said on your podcast, I believe the arrow may be pointing reverse so far.
Fields is a bummer, but the lack of attacking the aging Dline coupled with getting older at the CB position feels pretty bad.
I’m not upset about Fields, as I don’t think he was that good in the games he started. I’ll give him the two games, one a loss that was statistically his best outing, and the other where the Steelers hung over 30 points on their opponent. But the rest was so-so, and I won’t pin that on him. As for Moore, I wish him well, and I think we will see what he is able to do. If he does well, then it’s just another argument against Meyer, whom I dislike. As for the Metcalf trade, they needed something, and it may well be worth the cost (2nd round and swapping 6th and 7th round picks) and a five-year $150 million extension, but I’m skeptical right now. The rest… The CB room got older, and yeah, I understand the need for veteran leadership, but… Wasn’t Slay drafted in 2012 or 2013? He might have been very good last year, but what are the chances we’ll see that again? The DL has gone mostly ignored, but there is still hope they are intending on getting some studs in the draft…. Oh yeah, they’re down a second-round pick…But hey, we got ourselves a good receiver.