LAC 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).
Role / Depth Chart
Starting cornerback in Jim Harbaugh's Chargers defense.
Injury Status
Healthy.
Recent News
- 2026-06-11 — Patriots Christian Gonzalez’s Contract Demands Open Trade Door: Chargers Should Call (Patriots Christian Gonzalez’s Contract Demands Open Trade Door: Chargers Should Call)
- 2026-06-18 — 2026 NFL minicamp live updates: Last spring practices wrap up (2026 NFL minicamp live updates: Last spring practices wrap up)
- 2026-06-18 — 2026 NFL minicamp live updates: Latest on Tua Tagovailoa (2026 NFL minicamp live updates: Latest on Tua Tagovailoa)
- 2026-06-12 — Chargers need some major offseason strides from pair of third-year defenders (Chargers need some major offseason strides from pair of third-year defenders)
- 2026-05-21 — Will Chargers have more offensive line competition? Pay Tuli Tuipulotu? Mailbag (Will Chargers have more offensive line competition? Pay Tuli Tuipulotu? Mailbag)
- 2026-06-04 — Ranking the NFL’s 10 best head coaches entering the 2026 season (Ranking the NFL’s 10 best head coaches entering the 2026 season)
- 2026-04-26 — NFL beat writer 2026 mock draft 3.0: Could another QB join Fernando Mendoza in Round... (NFL beat writer 2026 mock draft 3.0: Could another QB join Fernando Mendoza in Round...)
- 2026-05-30 — Chargers' Free Agent Steal Still Isn't Getting His Due (Chargers' Free Agent Steal Still Isn't Getting His Due)
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?