One of the most glaring changes made by the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason is their new-look secondary. The signings of Darius Slay and Juan Thornhill, combined with the massive Minkah Fitzpatrick for Jalen Ramsey trade, have completely overhauled the back end of the defense heading into 2025.
It was no surprise given how the secondary performed last season. Fitzpatrick had another down season after an All-Pro 2022 campaign, and trade pickup Donte Jackson was inconsistent and dealt with injuries.
Jackson landed on his feet despite the poor season, signing a two-year, $13 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers. The former second-round pick ended up winning a job as one of their outside corners, and his first start against the Chiefs Friday night suggests that the Steelers may have moved on too soon.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers' corner Donte Jackson shines in Chargers debut
Jackson wasn't flashy by any means in his first action with Los Angeles, but he was consistently good in coverage and rarely gave Patrick Mahomes space to throw the football his way. According to Pro Football Focus, Jackson allowed just two receptions on six targets for nine yards, and he had a near-interception on an athletic diving play.
He was also solid as a tackler, something he has struggled mightily with as a player throughout his career. He generally looked like a completely different player, and it should be no surprise.
The Chargers managed to put together a top 10 defense last year with mostly mid-to-late round rookies at corner, and the defense as a whole severely outplayed their talent level. Pittsburgh's defense relies heavily on its overwhelming talent up front to make everything work, making it hard on the secondary when they don't pressure the quarterback.
As well as Jackson played in his debut, it's far too early to gauge whether not re-signing him was a mistake by the Steelers. He is in a much better position to succeed with the defensive system in place with the Chargers, and he looks healthier than he ever was last season.
Hopefully, Darius Slay and Jalen Ramsey play so well that nobody even notices Jackson's performance in LA. But with both even older than the 29-year-old Jackson, the chance that they underperform is higher than fans may think.