Why the Chargers traded J.C. Jackson one season after an $82.5M deal - ESPN

AS THE DEFENSIVE backs meeting was ending, Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco walked to the front of the room.

It was Week 6, the group's first meeting since the Chargers traded cornerback J.C. Jackson to the New England Patriots for a swap of late-round picks, just over a year after signing him to a five-year $82.5 million contract in March of 2022. Telesco stood in front of the group and began to apologize.

Telesco told the group that signing Jackson was a mistake, according to multiple team sources. He apologized for continuing to give Jackson opportunities, despite Jackson routinely showing that he wasn't as committed as the rest of the team while being one of the Chargers' highest paid players.

Telesco called the move a «swing and a miss.»

The apology was a shocking admission, but Telesco's points weren't a secret in the organization. Jackson struggled to be the player the Chargers thought they were getting after his four seasons in New England, which included a second-team All-Pro selection. In two seasons in Los Angeles, Jackson played seven games. He missed 14 of 22 games due to injuries and was benched in his final two games as a Charger.

When he did play, Jackson's stats were among the worst in his career, with highs in passer rating while targeted and yards allowed per completion.

«I'm still confused on why, but like I said, I can't put my opinion on it. It was the coach's decision,» Jackson said after he was benched for the Week 3 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. «I can tell you I'm confused. I don't know what's going on, but that's not the real answer of why I didn't play last week or why I didn't start. That's above me.»

Many within the organization believed Jackson approached practices