Donte Jackson: Steelers knew I'd be 'perfect corner for this system and this division'

The Steelers didn’t come away empty-handed in their trade of Diontae Johnson to the Panthers in March.

Although Johnson was the headliner of the deal as Carolina’s new pass-catching weapon for Bryce Young, Pittsburgh bolstered its typically menacing defense by netting Donte Jackson, a solid cover corner who feels he’s already picking up the intricacies at his new locale after experiencing just one NFL home since 2018.

“I played in Carolina for all my career, but I’ve had five different defensive systems that I had to be in,” Jackson said Thursday during his availability at organized team activities. “Even though I was in the same uniform, I still had to make sure we hone in one those details. So it’s kind of the same way here, just making sure you learn every little detail. … It ain’t been that much of a learning curve for me, but it’s been a real thrill just getting in here learning how this thing rolls so consistently year in and year out. I’m just happy to be a part of it.”

During Jackson’s six years in Carolina, he experienced three different full-time defensive coordinators, plus an interim DC for half of the 2022 campaign. The Panthers managed two top-five scoring defenses during that span, including a fourth-place ranking last season.

Jackson’s new squad has also twice finished top-five in points allowed since he’s been in the league, with two additional top-10 placements thanks to a relentless pass rush and, more recently, budding playmaker Joey Porter Jr., who this week called himself the best CB in the NFL.

“My reaction is you’re supposed to,” Jackson said of Porter believing he’s the best. “You ask me that same question, I’m gonna say the same thing. Especially with a young guy, you love that confidence. Joey spent a lot of the season last year following guys, matching up with guys, and he did a really good job.”

When asked a follow-up about his perception of his own ranking, Jackson — who figures to slot in opposite Porter as the team’s other boundary cornerback — wouldn’t partake in the numbers game. He did, however, express full confidence in his ability.

“One thing that always stood the test of time is my ability to make plays, my ability to go out there and match up against the best guys, my ability to go out there and hit and tackle,” Jackson said. “When it comes to playing corner, you can do all the rankings and stuff, but I feel like I’m a complete guy. I don’t really too much care about putting myself up in all that. I just care about being a solid, consistent guy. That’s what I’ve been throughout my career. The tape don’t lie.”

Jackson has yet to make a Pro Bowl since entering the league as a second-rounder, but he’s seldom been a weak point of any unit on which he’s served. The 28-year-old played 16 games in 2023 for the first time since his rookie year, and with a return to health came better form than he’s shown in other injury-plagued seasons.

Both his 66.6 PFF coverage grade and 64.3 defensive grade were personal bests since 2020. He has 14 career interceptions, and he’s an able and willing tackler with 59 total and a career-high five for loss during his final season as a Panther.

His move to Pittsburgh brings him from the NFC South, a grouping that hasn’t had a team win double-digit games for two straight seasons, to the AFC North, a famously black-and-blue division that saw all four teams finish above .500 last season and sent three of them to the playoffs.

Jackson expects to play the same type of well-rounded role for the Steelers that he’s always played, only now he believe he’ll be doing it on a grander stage.

“When I first got traded here, basically what they said, ‘Get ready to go match, get ready to go follow guys, get ready to go and do what we know you do well,'” Jackson said. “Tackling is one of my big strong suits. Being my size, people don’t expect me to come up and hit. So that was another thing that stood out. They just knew I’d be a perfect corner for this system and this division. I’m excited to put my talents and what I’ve been doing my whole career on such a big stage like this one. I can’t wait.”