After trading for Khalil Mack, the Los Angeles Chargers bolster their defense by signing All-Pro cornerback JC Jackson away from the Patriots.
If last year didn’t hurt the Los Angeles Chargers enough, they have shown it clearly with the trade for Khalil Mack and now the signing of JC Jackson.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the former undrafted free agent turned all-pro cornerback with the Patriots is now taking his talents out west to football’s most exciting division. A 5 year, $82.5M deal.
Again, with Justin Herbert on his rookie contract, it seems wise that general manager Tom Telesco would put as many valuable resources alongside him as possible. Jackson, along with Mack, will now compete in a rugged AFC West that features the Raiders, the now emerging Broncos, and Nick Wright’s Kansas City Chiefs.
The move is not a surprise, and it certainly helps head coach Brandon Staley. Hopefully, fingers crossed, the team stays healthy enough to be as competitive as they look on paper, but history has shown otherwise in recent years.
JC Jackson puts the Los Angeles Chargers among the contenders for Super Bowl favorites, at least for now
As has been shown in recent years, the Chargers have come up short despite having some of the best talent in the league. There is no reasonable explanation for all of that. One could argue lousy luck, and some could say ill-advised miscues.
Whatever the reason, this team, thanks to this move and the one made for Mack, has a substantial opportunity in front of them to maximize the returns on their investments. In short, win the Super Bowl to justify the deals.
It’s been long enough for this franchise, especially how they only have one trip to the Big Game on their resume, but they were in San Diego and fell to a heavily favored San Francisco 49ers team and Steve Young, you know, the monkey off the back game.
All in all, Jackson is a good signing. He brings a Super Bowl champion resume, has a good nose for the football, and above all, good instincts. The Chargers got themselves a strong, young, and gifted player. But will he thrive outside of New England? Only time will tell that answer to that question.