Donte Jackson's name is reportedly coming up in trade conversations, but where could the Carolina Panthers cornerback end up before the deadline?
Speculation is building about potential outgoings for the Carolina Panthers before the 2023 trade deadline. This is to be expected from a team without one win through six games, but which players end up leaving - if any - has yet to be determined.
One established figure touted as a possible trade candidate is Donte Jackson. The veteran cornerback has once again proven to be a liability in coverage this season, constantly getting burned on big plays and offering little in the way of consistency to a position group that's going through some complications currently.
Paying Jackson over Stephon Gilmore was a contentious issue at the time and even more so now. What the Panthers could get for Jackson is debatable, but an inquiry has reportedly been made for the former second-round selection out of LSU.
With this in mind, we picked out three teams that could show interest in Jackson before the all-important October 31 date.
Carolina Panthers could trade Donte Jackson to the Chargers
While the Los Angeles Chargers are staring down the barrel of another underachieving campaign, all hope is not lost just yet. Head coach Brandon Staley knows his job likely depends on how they fare from here on out, so adding to their roster seems like the best course of action rather than selling off any more assets.
The Chargers recently traded J.C. Jackson back to the New England Patriots after he failed to meet lofty expectations. Their secondary got absolutely torched by the Kansas City Chiefs last time out, so it wouldn't be the biggest shock to see them make a call to the Carolina Panthers in pursuit of acquiring Donte Jackson.
In this scenario, Jackson would have a similar role as CB2 or CB3. Looking at the Chargers' current options, he'd arguably be an upgrade if the price was right.
Carolina Panthers could trade Donte Jackson to the Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars look well on course to retain the AFC South crown under Doug Pederson. However, their pass defense is a grave concern and something that could prevent them from taking that next step when the postseason arrives.
Giving up 273.9 passing yards per game - which ranks second worst behind the Los Angeles Chargers - is not going to cut it against the NFL's elite. That's why seriously considering the possibility of finding alternatives should be considered before the trade deadline.
Donte Jackson isn't perfect, to put it mildly. But he is a veteran presence with enough top-end speed to provide immediate assistance and would likely love the opportunity to play in a warmer climate for one of the league's up-and-coming franchises.
Much will depend on the compensation involved, too. The Carolina Panthers are unlikely to get anything more than a Day 3 selection in return for Jackson, although reports suggest the player is being valued much higher than that by the front office for some unknown reason.
Looking at the possible options for Jackson, the Jaguars make more sense than most. They have a roster right on the cusp of something special - it's just a case of fine-tuning problem position groups in pursuit of getting over the hump.
Any team acquiring Jackson would be taking a calculated risk. After all, he is the definition of a feast or famine addition at this juncture.
Carolina Panthers could trade Donte Jackson to the Commanders
Things are looking pretty desperate for former Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera. An embarrassing loss at the New York Giants did nothing to alleviate the pressure with Josh Harris' new ownership group watching on, with all signs pointing to landmark changes if things don't improve quickly.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. The Commanders' cornerback room is going through serious issues currently, so Rivera might take this opportunity to bring in a veteran presence he knows and drafted back in 2018.
Kendall Fuller is playing at a high level, but Benjamin St-Juste is struggling with outside responsibilities, and rookie first-rounder Emmanuel Forbes is clearly not ready to cover elite opposition at the next level.
All the talk has centered on a potential fire sale in Washington before the trade deadline, which could also include either Chase Young or Montez Sweat. Rivera won't be throwing in the towel with his own job prospects hanging in the balance, so acquiring Jackson for reasonable compensation cannot be dismissed entirely, either.
Rivera is renowned for bringing in guys he can trust and has worked with before. Jackson ticks those boxes and there would be a level of confidence within the Commanders that they could get him back trending in the right direction.
However, giving Rivera draft picks when he might not be around beyond the current campaign is a possible stumbling block.