EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants signed free agent cornerback Adoree' Jackson.
Jackson is expected to start at the corner opposite Pro Bowler James Bradberry, one of the Giants' best free agent acquisitions in 2020.
Jackson, 25, played his first four NFL seasons for the Tennessee Titans, who selected him in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft (18th overall). He was released by the Titans last Tuesday.
One of Jackson's teammates, mentors and closest friends in Tennessee was Logan Ryan, who joined the Giants just prior to the 2020 season and finished second on the team with 92 tackles. Jackson also played with Giants defensive tackle Austin Johnson.
Last year, Jackson missed the first 13 games with a knee injury he suffered in training camp. He returned to the field for the final three regular-season games – starting the last two – and started in Tennessee's AFC Wild Card loss to Baltimore, a game in which he had eight solo tackles.
In four seasons, he played in 46 regular-season games with 41 starts and he started all six postseason games in which he played. He totaled 188 tackles (165 solo), two interceptions, 33 passes defensed, six tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Jackson also averaged 22.3 yards on 27 kickoff returns and 8.8 yards on 53 punt returns. In the postseason, he had 24 tackles (22 solo) and five passes defensed.
As a rookie in 2017, Jackson started all 18 Tennessee games, including two in the playoffs. He had 74 tackles – 67 in the regular season – and forced three fumbles. The following year, he played in all 19 games, starting 13 in the regular season – when he posted a career-high 69 tackles (62 solo) and intercepted two passes.
In 2019, Jackson was inactive for five games with a knee injury but returned to start all three playoff games as the Titans advanced to the AFC Championship Game.
Jackson was a standout performer at the University of Southern California, where he was awarded the 2016 Jim Thorpe Award as college football's top defensive back. In this three seasons with the Trojans, he scored 15 total touchdowns in four different ways: via reception (six), interception (one), punt return (four) and kickoff return (four). Jackson tied two NCAA records with eight career touchdowns on kickoff returns and nine touchdowns on all runbacks. He also set USC career records with 2,141 kickoff return yards and 79 kickoff returns.
