Donte Jackson Gets Roasted by Steelers; Yet his DROY Odds Improve

• Donte Jackson’s DROY odds improve despite rough TNF game vs Steelers
• How Jackson stacks up against his contemporaries
• The best bet to win defensive rookie of the year award

Figure this one out – Carolina Panthers rookie defensive back Donte Jackson allowed a perfect 158.3 passer rating in being targeted four times last Thursday, and was torched by Antonio Brown for a TD.

Yet, his odds to win Defensive Rookie of the Year got stronger. (See him on the Top 6 tab in the graph below.)

2018 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds

Despite the poor performance under the lights, Jackson still has a puncher’s chance of taking home the hardware.

But he faces an uphill battle with four others drafted before him all having strong campaigns, with two in particular establishing themselves as the clear favorites to emerge victorious.

Odds to Win 2018 NFL DROY

Donte Jackson went up against a beast last week

Back to that rough game against the Steelers.

Let’s be real here – Antonio Brown has made a living torching defensive backs, so in this day and age of hot takes and wild emotional reactions from week to week, it’s quite startling that Jackson’s odds to win DROY improved.

Tough to ask your rookie CB to cover AB all alone. Donte Jackson needs to get hands on AB and not give a clean release like that, also can’t turn your head and guess vs a guy like AB, he makes you pay.
pic.twitter.com/3WSA4Ssijj

— Rob Paul (@RobPaulNFL) November 9, 2018

Jackson was none too pleased after getting burned by a Steelers team that hung 52 points on the Panthers that he had a mini meltdown setting twitter ablaze with a treasure trove of meme possibilities.

So… Panthers rookie CB Donte Jackson was NOT happy about getting beat deep by Antonio Brown for a TD#CARvsPIT | #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/HEYeSuS2pB

— Kevin Boilard (@KevinBoilard) November 9, 2018

Despite the poor outing, let’s not lose sight of the fact that Jackson has already matched the most interceptions (four) Josh Norman ever had in his four seasons in Carolina and still has seven games to go!

He also finds himself tied for second in picks in the NFL, behind only Falcons safety Damontae Kazee, who has just one more interception.

Jackson still has two games remaining against the juggernaut Saints and another contest against Matt Ryan and the Falcons, so expect him to take some more lumps.

Donte Jackson for NFL Defensive ROY pic.twitter.com/jcQc0ycVvo

— Panthers 24/7 (@Panthers24_7) November 4, 2018

Best bet to win Defensive Rookie of the Year

Barring an injury this really has the feel of a two-horse race between Derwin James (Chargers) and Darius Leonard (Colts).

Resist the temptation to put some cash on Jackson and place that money elsewhere.