4 Free Agent cornerbacks Tampa Bay can sign ahead of preseason
By Brad Smith
Adoree Jackson
Similar to JC Jackson, Adoree Jackson is another veteran available to sign that could offer the Bucs stable play as a boundary corner. Jackson, the No. 18 pick in the 2017 draft, has split time at cornerback for the Giants and Titans over the past seven seasons. Starting in 77 of 83 games played, Jackson has recorded 376 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 56 pass breakups, four interceptions, five forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries.
Jackson was especially impressive in his rookie season, notching 70 tackles, a league-leading 17 pass breakups, and three forced fumbles in 16 starts. While Jackson has only totaled four career interceptions, Jackson has given up a completion percentage of 57.0% or less in three of five seasons, including in two of his last three campaigns.
In addition, Jackson has also shown flashes as an underrated kick and punt returner. In his first season in New York, Jackson posted 290 yards on 34 punt returns and 578 yards on 25 kickoffs for 923 all-purpose return yards. Since then, Jackson has been used sparingly on special teams, but could provide depth and a veteran presence for Tampa Bay in the secondary and on kick and punt returns.
While Jackson, at 6'1" and 198 pounds would be a smaller boundary corner than McCollum (6'2", 198) and Dean (6'1", 205), Jackson makes up for his lack of size for his stout speed. In addition to a 4.39 40-yard dash, Jackson clocked in at 20.92 miles per hour for the third-fastest speed on any interception returned for a touchdown in the NFL last season. That speed and his intangibles would be valuable to a young Buccaneers' cornerback room in 2024.