Jags Ink Free Agent Jackson to One-Year Deal

Posted by Matt Loede on October 31st, 2007 filed in News

The Jags have added some more beef to their defensive line, as they have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with free agent nose tackle Grady Jackson.  The 11-year vet became a free man after being released last week by the 1-6 Atlanta Falcons in a move that was stunning to the Falcons players as well as to the rest of the teams around the league.

Jackson had started 22 of 23 games since joining the Falcons back in 2006, and is one of the better interior defenders in the league.  He will join a D-line that has somewhat underachieved in 2007, but a line that does boast players Marcus Stroud and John Henderson.  To date the team ranks 15th in both total defense and defense vs the run, which is usually a strength of the squad.

The 35-year-old Jackson has played in 146 career games, and has 440 tackles, 33½ sacks, eight forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and 26 pass deflections.  He started his career with the Oakland Raiders and played there for five seasons (1997-2001). He has also had stints with New Orleans (2002-03), Green Bay (2004-05) and the Falcons (2006-2007).