Adoree’ Jackson on Being a Mentor and Improving His Own Game

Jackson looks forward to mentoring Giants first round draft pick Deonte Banks.

The New York Giants defense finished the 2022 season in the middle of the pack regarding receiving yards allowed and was tied for the fewest interceptions (6).

The Giants selected Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks with the 24th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to get these numbers up. Banks fills in a much-needed role on the defense and has already won the respect and admiration of teammate and Giants CB1 Adoree' Jackson.

“He’s been a good guy, giving us laughs, singing, and stuff, which is pretty cool to see him not shy away or be shy at all and trying to be one of us. It’s dope to see,” Jackson said. “I can’t do anything but appreciate him and welcome him the same as us.”

Jackson has taken Banks under his wing as the rookie acclimates to life in the NFL. Jackson knows the importance of having a veteran mentor--when he played for the Tennessee Titans, former Giants defensive back Logan Ryan took him under his wing and mentored him. 

So far, Jackson has loved what he's seen from Banks. 

“I’m excited. I watched his tape,” Jackson said. “Like him. Watched him go through the walk-throughs, different things. Talked to him. He’s got a good head on his shoulder. Seems like a great guy. I was excited to get D-Banks.”

Banks isn't the only member of the Giants secondary Jackson plans to help out. He mentioned fellow cornerback Nick McCloud, who spent most of the spring working at safety. 

“I think Nick is a man, a Swiss Army knife,” Jackson said. “A guy that is going to do whatever you ask him to do, he’s going to do it at a high level…never puts his head down,”.

Jackson also looks forward to mentoring McCloud, but the veteran wants the young guys to learn from their mistakes through experience. Jackson said he was taught this method in Tennessee by former defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau but added that he would still try to be a voice in their ears in addition to letting the youngsters learn from their mistakes.  

If anyone thinks Jackson will get too caught up in his new mentoring role, he knows he has his own game to improve. In roughly half a season last year--he missed a chunk of games due to a knee injury--Jackson didn't record a single interception despite getting around the ball a lot.

Since signing with the Giants, Jackson has only managed one interception.

"I don't know. That's a good question," he said when asked about his lack of turnovers. "I feel like the season was all right. I feel like a good season. Going all the way, winning the whole thing. But I can't explain being around the ball a lot and not getting plays. Hopefully, the Lord hears me put it up in existence and gives me a lot more this year."

And if it doesn't pan out that way, Jackson said he won't stress too much over it. 

"It doesn’t happen that way, I'm not going to beat myself over it and just think about I need to do this, do this, then I'm thinking about the wrong thing," he said. "And then something else happens, and I give up or mess up a play somewhere else.

For me, it’s just being in the moment, be on that play and then clear it, be in next-play mentality," he said. "Say I do get a pick first quarter--I've still got three more quarters left to play. (Defensive coordinator) Wink (Martindale) always says, 'Give us two.' For me, just try to play my game, and when an opportunity comes, make the plays."

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