One of the Chargers’ new additions is also a top 20 player in the NFL.
As part of Sunday’s final reveal of the top 100 players in the league, cornerback J.C. Jackson was named the 20th best player as voted on by his colleagues. Jackson moves up 29 spots from last season after logging eight interceptions and being named to his first Pro Bowl.
Jackson earned a five-year, $82.5 million contract from LA this offseason after spending his first four seasons in New England, where he signed as an undrafted free agent in 2018. His 17 interceptions over the past two seasons are the most in the NFL in that span.
In Los Angeles, he’ll be expected to lock down half the field to open up Brandon Staley’s play calling the same way Jalen Ramsey did when Staley served as defensive coordinator for the Rams.
This year’s Chargers squad is tied for the most players from one team to be named to the list with 8. The Seahawks also had eight on the 2017 edition – Richard Sherman, Russell Wilson, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Bobby Wagner, Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, and Doug Baldwin. LA’s group is a bit more balanced with three defenders and five offensive players. Jackson is also rated one spot higher than Sherman was in 2017.
Joining such a club does not necessarily guarantee success, as the 2017 Seahawks went just 9-7 and missed the playoffs that season. The Bolts will hope their season goes much differently.