Josh Jackson might be coming into view for KC Chiefs

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach likes to take a chance on former early-round draft picks.

All jokes aside, Veach’s penchant for buying low on players with a history of draft buzz has failed to produce dividends most times, but such is the success rate of players who have already failed in one or even several other places. Sometimes a team just wants to get a closer look at a player who, at one point, drew so much acclaim.

One of the latest such prospects (or former prospects) on whom the Chiefs have taken a chance is cornerback Josh Jackson, a former ballhawk from the University of Iowa who went in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft to the Green Bay Packers. That year he had 8 interceptions, was named the Big Ten’s Defensive Back of the Year, and was a Thorpe Award finalist.

Former Packers cornerback Josh Jackson might be coming into view for the K.C. Chiefs as an asset on the practice squad.

Jackson was taken at No. 45 overall in conjunction with former Louisville star Jaire Alexander in a draft class that was supposed to solve the Packers woes in the secondary and provide a bright young pair of pass defenders for years to come. Alexander has certainly done his part, but the Packers have since been forced to take other corners early because Jackson never quite worked out in Green Bay. (They took first-round pick Eric Stokes just this past spring.)

Jackson started slow as a rookie but eventually earned a starting spot and got first-team reps in 10 games with the Packers in 2018. He had 10 deflections but he allowed a 106.1 passer rating that season on balls thrown his way and it was clear Green Bay wanted to upgrade the competition there going forward. In subsequent seasons, Jackson would play only a rotational role for two more years before falling out of favor entirely.

Before active rosters were due this past September, the Packers swapped corners with the New York Giants in a deal for Isaac Yiadom. The change of scenery did nothing for Jackson, as he never even made the field once for the Giants before he was waived in late October. The Chiefs signed him three days later, and he’s been on the team’s practice squad ever since.

Even with the Chiefs, Jackson has been a silent roster member who is getting time with teammates, trainers, and coaches but he’s yet to be activated for a game. That is, until this week, when fans have heard the first words about Jackson from the team since they signed him. On Tuesday, the Chiefs protected him on the practice squad, which is a good sign that they intend on utilizing a player soon enough. On Wednesday, head coach Andy Reid mentioned him in light of a recent injury for cornerback and special teams player Chris Lammons (ankle).

Just like that, a low-risk investment made in October could pay dividends in December. For Jackson, it’s a new opportunity to turn heads and alter the trajectory of his pro career. For the Chiefs, it’s a buy-low opp at a position where the Chiefs have had great success with similar low-cost investments. L’Jarius Sneed was a late fourth round pick. Rashad Fenton was a sixth-round choice. Charvarius Ward was a fringe roster player swap as a rookie free agent with the Dallas Cowboys. Even Deandre Baker and Mike Hughes were former first-round picks brought in after they’d disappointed their original teams.

If Jackson plays on Sunday, it likely won’t provide much game tape for fans to watch. Filling in for Lammons means playing with special teams units and that’s pretty much it. It’s an important role, but he’s unlikely to get any defensive reps, especially if Rashad Fenton can return after a week away with a knee injury.

Jackson had 86 tackles, 12 deflected passes, and zero interceptions in 42 games in Green Bay from 2018 to 2020.