Giants hoping Jackson adores planned visit
Looking to cherry-pick talent that did not already get scooped up in the first week of free agency, the Giants are planning a visit for cornerback Adoree’ Jackson.
Signing Jackson would address a need for an outside cornerback capable of starting on the other side of James Bradberry and also would be in keeping with coach Joe Judge’s preference to add young players with upside.
The 25-year-old Jackson is scheduled to arrive Sunday at the Giants’ facility and remain until Monday. He will then head to Philadelphia that night to meet with the Eagles, according to ESPN.
Jackson was the Titans’ 2017 first round pick out of USC, and he started 41 of the 46 games he played the past four years. He missed the first 13 games in 2020 with a knee injury and made it back for the final three games. In his NFL career, Jackson has 200 tackles, 33 pass deflections, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He also has value as a kick returner.
The second starting cornerback spot opposite Bradberry was a problem area last season. Isaac Yiadom had limited success there and the Giants are looking for an upgrade. They have several players capable of playing slot corner — Darnay Holmes, Xavier McKinney, Logan Ryan and possibly Julian Love — but they need help on the outside. Sam Beal, an outside cornerback selected in the 2018 supplemental draft, remains on the roster after opting out of the 2020 season.
The Titans picked up Jackson’s fifth-year option, but they released him Tuesday and signed cornerback Janoris Jenkins, a former Giants starter. Jackson’s contract would have become fully guaranteed if had been on the roster Wednesday, and the Titans saved $10 million in salary cap space by cutting him. Jackson is expected to have several teams interested in him.
➤ It was understandable that Giants fans wondered about the effect on Evan Engram when another tight end, Kyle Rudolph, agreed to terms Thursday on what was first leaked as a two-year deal worth $16 million. At $8 million bucks a year for the 31-year-old Rudolph, it was natural to speculate he was signed to replace Engram, a talented but inconsistent 2017 first round pick who is on the books for $6 million in 2021 after the Giants picked up his fifth-year option. Rudolph costing more than Engram seemed to indicate Rudolph was now TE1 and Engram might get traded. Nope.
The Post reported Rudolph’s contract is a two-year deal worth up to $14 million and this is accurate. As usual, though, the devil is in the details. Rudolph actually counts only $4.75 million on the salary cap this year, a figure perfectly in line for a 10-year veteran with two Pro Bowls on his resume. Rudolph is not the player he was early in his time with the Vikings, but the Giants believe he has enough left to serve as a strong blocker, reliable pass catcher and, importantly, an ungraded red zone threat for their offense.
Rudolph’s base salary for 2021 is $2.5 million and he receives a signing bonus of $4.5 million. His base salary in $2022 is $5 million. He can earn $1 million in incentives each year.
Engram stays as TE1. Rudolph arrives as TE2.