Josh Jackson’s Departure Was Inevitable
On Tuesday, the Packers traded Josh Jackson to the Giants for Isaac Yiadom.
Well, he wasn’t cut, but Josh Jackson is no longer a member of the Green Bay Packers.
The Packers had until 4 pm on Tuesday to trim their roster from 90 to 85 players. In a surprising move, Jackson was not among those that were cut. Instead, Green Bay got something in return by sending the former second-round pick to the New York Giants for corner Isaac Yiadom. Coincidentally, Yiadom was selected one round after Jackson in 2018 and has also had a difficult time finding his NFL footing.
The parting of ways with Jackson became predestined after his abysmal showing in week one of the preseason. Houston Texans' quarterbacks frequently targeted Jackson in coverage, and more times than not, the ball was completed to the intended target.
In total, Jackson allowed seven receptions for a total of 93 yards against the Texans. In all honesty, he did not look like a player entering his fourth year. Jackson looked stiff when trying to mirror routes, and the necessary quickness to limit separation was almost obsolete.
These issues have plagued Jackson since he came into the league. He had one productive season in college, which resulted in an NCAA-leading eight interceptions. Up until the NFL combine, Jackson was viewed as a first-round prospect. However, when his testing revealed limited athleticism, he fell to the Packers in the second.
Some thought it was a steal, however, Jackson’s time in Green Bay has only gotten worse.
Jackson’s snap count as a rookie more than doubled any total from the last two seasons. In 2018, when Kevin King got hurt, it was Jackson and fellow rookie Jaire Alexander serving as the starting corners.
After that, unless King was hurt, Jackson barely saw the field. Green Bay even tried him out at different positions to try and maximize his ball-hawking skill set, but nothing worked. He wasn’t quick enough for the slot, and his struggles as a tackler did not bode well for safety.
Eventually, Jackson was limited to just special teams. Then, he experienced a new low when he became a healthy scratch at the end of the 2020 season. This was the beginning of the end.
Yes, Jackson’s NFL journey has been unfortunate, but he has done very little to help himself. When he did get his chances, they were usually squandered by inexcusable mistakes.
Whether it was a scheme, position, or talent issue, Jackson never had what it took to be a Packer. Maybe a change of scenery will do him good, but his departure from Green Bay was inevitable.
Brandon Carwile is a Packers writer who also enjoys watching and breaking down film. Follow him on Twitter @PackerScribe.
Comments (40)
Packer_Fan
August 18, 2021 at 12:08 pm
Yup. And if they dump the guy they got or put him on the taxi squad, they will have cleared 1.3 mils
Savage57
August 19, 2021 at 06:48 am
JJ was afflicted with the same fatal condition as Davon House and Ladarius Gunter.
Heavy feet.
packer132
August 19, 2021 at 09:20 am
Jackson had to go, and was going to be cut anyway. If Yiadom can contribute on special teams, thats a bonus. Now is not the time to penny pinch about $1 million. They are trying to find the best 53 players, and Jackson was not one of them.
mnbadger
August 18, 2021 at 12:12 pm
Well written article, not peeing in JJ's Packer grave, just telling the facts and wishing him well. JJ was never reported to be a bad person, but clearly isn't capable of playing one of the most difficult positions in the NFL. Few are. Gutey sure struggled in his first draft. GPG!
Fubared
August 18, 2021 at 02:47 pm
Gutt sucks as a GM period. Rashad Gary whose career I followed at Michigan, was not the wonder they thought he would be.
Tell me who this reminds you of: goes mising in games, oft injured with minor things, makes a big play once in a while and really turns it on in his contract year.
Nick Perry sound familiar.
Gutt said he decided on Gary before the combine and had already made up his mind, when the analyst had Gary as a second or even third rounder for the reasons above
Stroh
August 18, 2021 at 06:14 pm
It's RASHAN, not Rashad! And he is on a very similar path as Cam Jordan, a multi time Pro Bowl player! Gary is going to make a fool of you in short order!!
marpag1
August 19, 2021 at 11:44 am
Gary has played in 35 out of 36 possible games during his career, so spare us the "oft injured" bullshit.
Once again, it's amazing how many trolls talk straight out of their asses and apparently expect everyone to believe it.
splitpea1
August 18, 2021 at 12:22 pm
If Yiadom makes the team and can be transformed into at least a reliable ST contributor, then we will have made the best of the situation. Since we appear to have solid depth in the secondary, the loss of Jackson is pretty insignificant, anyway.
Lare
August 18, 2021 at 12:54 pm
No offense to Josh, but he should consider a different career.
Alberta_Packer
August 18, 2021 at 01:13 pm
Having already earned (given) $5M - he's in an optimal position to consider his next career.
MITM
August 18, 2021 at 01:04 pm
I see a lot of Giants games in my market and have tons of friends that are Giants fans - this guy Yiadom has been absolutely terrible lol
Fubared
August 18, 2021 at 02:43 pm
Why do I beleive that. Who in there right mind trades a decent corner? NO ONE.
We got snookered in that Jackson may be better.
jurp
August 18, 2021 at 06:33 pm
Stockholder, is that you?
Thegreatreynoldo
August 19, 2021 at 05:20 am
NYJ's beat writer: Jets were gonna cut Yiadom anyway. At least they got a guy with some pedigree.
GBP's beat writer: Packers were gonna cut Jackson anyway. At least they got a former third round pick (who plays STs).
Andy Herman envisioned this scenario and tweeted something similar to the above, and Jersy Al mentioned the ST angle.
dblbogey
August 18, 2021 at 01:22 pm
I don't claim to be an expert, but I'm an Iowa Hawkeye fan. Josh Jackson never really stood out in college, other than his senior year when he happened to have a lot of interceptions. He was a respectable college player. Scouts got fooled by the interception stat. Too slow, too grabby. That was obvious at Iowa.
jannesbjornson
August 18, 2021 at 06:02 pm
Obvious to everyone with the exception of professional football scouts...
Alberta_Packer
August 18, 2021 at 01:46 pm
The ultimate failing is not Jackson's but the scouting department. I do not begrudge a college player getting drafted - being paid well - trying their best - but not meeting others expectations. However in hindsight, Jackson was just a one year wonder -who played in a system that showcased his main (and perhaps only) strength - playing zone. Many experts / scouts became totally enamored by his interception totals - while failing to see that he wasn't a particularly quick, fast or athletic player. In short, they had shut-off their college-to-pro transition calculators. So my final report card would have:
Josh Jackson - D
Scouting Department - F
Fubared
August 18, 2021 at 02:41 pm
You did well. I too had never been thrilled with the Packs talent and overall evaluation process.
1. The QB from UCLA we drafted high. Ya he had a high completion record but, those were mostly 8 to 10 yard passes over the middle to a slot guy. Otherwise the guy couldnt read a d to save his life.
2. Keven King, had two major shoulder injuries in college and missed a lot of time.
3. 5'9 d backs are worthless when the avg receiver is 6'1 to 6'5.. Hard to cover harder to tackle.
Stroh
August 18, 2021 at 07:03 pm
You do realize that 50% of 1st rd pick fail! Every round increases the bust rate to much higher then 50%. Scouting at its best is a VERY inexact science. The only pick that should surprise as bust is in the top 10-15 picks. Beyond that its never a surprise if a pick busts.
That said, I never thought Jackson was an NFL CB.
Todd
August 18, 2021 at 07:37 pm
Add every scouting department affiliated with the NFL then since he had a first or second round projection. Lots of whiffs there.
BAMABADGER
August 18, 2021 at 01:43 pm
Watching game replay today on the NFL network. Jackson's performance was terrible for a 2nd round 3 year veteran. So we trade or meh for the Giants meh.
Alberta_Packer
August 18, 2021 at 04:49 pm
There's no denying that he did not come close to performing as a 2nd round talent. My point is that he was mis-scouted more than he mis-performed. All things considered and through a more objective lens - he was never a 2nd or maybe even a 3rd round talent. As for the trade - pride and damage control by both teams.
Stroh
August 18, 2021 at 08:01 pm
Not hardly! Jackson was terrible... PERIOD! He failed to find any role whatsoever and was tried in every conceivable role, including ST.
As I stated in another comment this thread, 50% of 1st rd picks bust and every rd after the bust rate increases! It's an inexact science even at its best and the Packers still do better than nearly every other team in the draft, all while picking in the mid to late 20s for the past 30 years!
NO clue.
Fubared
August 18, 2021 at 02:37 pm
Dont know about the rest of you fine fellows, but a guy who's name is Ya Dum, doesnt exactly instill a lot of positive confidence. LOL
SwedeBayPacker
August 18, 2021 at 07:14 pm
Low hanging fruit. Come on man, you're better than this.
dobber
August 18, 2021 at 07:19 pm
Sadly, no.
Since'61
August 18, 2021 at 11:22 pm
Cookie! Thanks, Since ‘61
Stroh
August 18, 2021 at 08:02 pm
No he's clearly not.
mnbadger
August 20, 2021 at 12:43 pm
Yeah, too easy. But it's fair game for highly paid public figures.
Stroh
August 18, 2021 at 08:30 pm
Some schmuck on the internet name I'm a Pain certainly isn't worth taking seriously.
MarkinMadison
August 18, 2021 at 03:49 pm
There were plenty of folks here at the time who thought he would be the first round pick for the Packers. Getting him in the second sure FELT like a steal at the time. Personally, as an Iowa fan, I hope the Packers never draft another Iowa D-back. It just never seems to work out.
stockholder
August 18, 2021 at 05:17 pm
Hyde?
MarkinMadison
August 18, 2021 at 08:37 pm
He ain't here.
jannesbjornson
August 18, 2021 at 06:04 pm
The safeties know the game.
Stroh
August 18, 2021 at 06:09 pm
Anyone who paid attention to anything other than his INT totals in college knew he was destined to fail in the NFL! He never had the requisite athletic traits to be successful in the NFL. I tried to tell anyone who would listen.
He was a bust the day he was drafted!
Todd
August 18, 2021 at 07:39 pm
But doesn't his case also highlight how inexact of a science evaluating talent is since he had a first or second round projection? And not just by the Packers.
Stroh
August 18, 2021 at 08:07 pm
Yes. Exactly. Scouting is a very inexact science. But when I watched his combine performance in position drills, who his college INTs were against and ignored his INT stats it was clear to me he would never succeed in the NFL. He just didn't have NFL athletic traits.
mnbadger
August 20, 2021 at 12:45 pm
If I remember correctly, 3 of his picks came off of Joel Stave. Fine young man I'm sure, but not exactly Dan Marino. GPG
SwedeBayPacker
August 18, 2021 at 07:12 pm
Here's to hoping a change of scenery is beneficial for them both.
Grandfathered
August 19, 2021 at 07:50 pm
Brandon: This seemed like a very strange turn of phrase: " Jackson looked stiff when trying to mirror routes, and the necessary quickness to limit separation was almost obsolete." His necessary quickness is almost obsolete? I'm trying to wrap my head around it. Thanks for the article, carry on!