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Donte Jackson
CB · LAC

Donte Jackson

Position CB
Team LAC
Bye Week —
PPR Rank —

Donte Jackson

NFL player. Position: CB. Team: LAC (Los Angeles Chargers).

Quick Facts

  • Position: CB
  • Team: LAC (Los Angeles Chargers)
  • Contract: 2-year, $13M deal (signed 2025)

2026 Outlook

Cornerback Donte Jackson has become an underappreciated ball hawk for the Chargers after strong 2025 performance. Signed to a 2-year, $13M deal in 2025 free agency (described as "highway robbery"), Jackson posted career-high 70.8 PFF grade with 4 interceptions and 12 pass breakups (both team-highs) while allowing a 58.5 passer rating against (per Chargers' Free Agent Steal Still Isn't Getting His Due). He played all 16 regular season games plus a playoff game vs. Patriots in 2025, his first full season since his 2018 rookie year with Carolina. Combined 9 interceptions in his last two seasons after picking off only 14 passes during his first six years in the NFL, suggesting a recent uptick in ball-hawking ability. Chargers' defense posted 19 total interceptions in 2025 (tied for 3rd in league with Houston), benefiting from opportunistic play across the secondary (per Chargers' Free Agent Steal Still Isn't Getting His Due).

2026 will be his final year under contract, with Jackson set to reach free agency at the end of the season. He should remain the primary starter at outside cornerback, though the Chargers are evaluating young secondaries pieces like Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart as potential future cornerstones. Jackson's performance in 2026 will be critical for establishing his market value heading into free agency. (per Chargers need some major offseason strides from pair of third-year defenders).

Oct 7 trade-deadline speculation: Yardbarker targets Jackson as a potential Lions acquisition, noting that despite suffering a concussion and hamstring injury through four weeks, he's remained "sticky in coverage with his average separation (1.6 yards) and tight-window throw rate (36.4 percent) being the best of his career." At 30 (turning 31 on Nov. 8), Jackson becomes a more realistic trade target than elite younger corners—the article suggests he could be acquired for a 7th-rounder as a pending free agent. A move to Detroit would provide him a playoff-contending destination to showcase value for his free-agency market (per Five potential NFL trades: Change of scenery for young wideouts, 49ers go all-in and more - Yardbarker).

Role / Depth Chart

Starting cornerback in Jim Harbaugh's Chargers defense.

Injury Status

Healthy.

Recent News

Open Questions

  • Will Donte Jackson's career-best 2025 performance and recent two-year ball-hawking trend continue as a first-time Pro Bowl candidate in 2026?

Sources

What the Experts Are Saying

Fantasy Football Today15 Burning Questions for Week 4!
Sal Vetri5 Players You Need to Draft BEFORE They Breakout