Veteran cornerback has been a Giant for four seasons — does he deserve a fifth?
The impending free agency of New York Giants cornerback Adoree’ Jackson is going to be interesting. There are valid arguments both for and against the Giants trying to bring Jackson back for a fifth season with the team. Let’s get into them.
Reasons to keep Jackson
Jackson, who will be 30 next season, remains a good player. Not a great one. Not a difference-maker. Not an irreplaceable one. But, a good player. He should not be expensive. He cost just $1.7 million against the salary cap in 2024, when no one else seemed to want him and he re-signed with the Giants more or less on the eve of the regular season. Having started only five games for a bad 3-14 team he won’t command a big salary this offseason, either.
Jackson is not a No. 1 cornerback. The Giants, at times in the past, have tried to use him that way but it exposes his limitations.
Still, the Giants need to add talent at cornerback. Not subtract it.
Reasons to let him go
Jackson and the Giants were somewhat odd bedfellows in 2024. Neither side really seemed to want each other after a 2023 where Jackson made some clear business decisions late in the season. It seemed like Jackson felt he was gone, and the Giants clearly spent the offseason looking for a better alternative.
Neither seemed to find what they wanted, and ended up back together out of necessity.
The Giants need a No. 1 cornerback. Jackson is not that. There is, of course, no guarantee they can find one. They also need veteran leadership for young players like Deonte Banks. I like Jackson, but I am not sure veteran mentor to younger players is a role he is suited for.
The verdict
I think the Giants should let Jackson go and look elsewhere. Find a top-tier veteran cornerback in free agency, if they can. If not, just keep stocking the shelves with young talent and let it grow.
