Adam Peters never lost faith in defensive end Drake Jackson when others gave up. Now, the Washington Commanders general manager has doubled down on his optimism that better days are ahead for the edge rusher.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Commanders have re-signed Jackson to a one-year deal. This is the third defensive veteran given another deal, with Deatrich Wise Jr. and Shy Tuttle also re-upping in Washington before the legal tampering window opens.
Those two players are aging veterans without many good years left. At 24, Jackson is different. If he can finally get a full offseason under his belt with no more injury problems, the Commanders may just have something.
Commanders might be onto something if Drake Jackson can stay healthy
Jackson was a highly touted college prospect coming out of USC. Peters held an influential position in the San Francisco 49ers' front office when they took him at No. 61 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. After flashing promise over the first season and a half of his professional career, devastating injuries brought his momentum to an abrupt halt.
The Niners eventually cut their losses, and the Commanders quickly swooped. They stashed Jackson in injured reserve to continue his rehabilitation, but he did manage to feature in the final three games. That was a significant step in the right direction for a player who hadn't played since Week 8 of the 2023 campaign. It was also enough to give Peters the confidence to make another short-term commitment.
This was the best-case scenario for Jackson. There is a new scheme to learn under Daronte Jones, so he must impress a different coaching staff all over again. But staying healthy is paramount.
It's been a long time since Jackson had any sort of legitimate preparations for a new NFL season. The worst is seemingly behind him. At the same time, the torrid health history is something the Commanders should constantly monitor.
This move represents a low-risk re-signing with high rewards attached. But this won't stop Peters from finding a difference-maker or two to give the pass-rush a shot in the arm.
Jackson might not be a starter; there are too many risks. Still, if he can slowly build momentum en route to making the 53-man roster, he could end up being a useful rotational piece with the scope for further improvements.
Having this stability will mean everything to Jackson after everything he's had to overcome in recent years. But make no mistake; what comes next is even more important.