Buffalo Bills sign veteran cornerback Kareem Jackson to new one-year deal

Former first-round cornerback Kareem Jackson will gear up for a 15th season in the league after signing a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday, the team announced. Jackson ended the 2023 season with the Houston Texans – the team that originally drafted him out of Alabama in 2010 – after the Denver Broncos released him on Christmas Day.

Jackson had just returned to practice after serving a four-game suspension for repeated violations of unnecessary roughness rules when the Denver Broncos opted to move on. In total, he missed six games last season due to suspension. The league fined him $89,670 and he forfeited $838,889 in salary. He still managed to finish the year with 53 tackles and two interceptions – which he snagged while with the Broncos.

“I want to get the sour taste out of my mouth,” Jackson said after his release from Denver. “The last few weeks have been rough on me. It’s been a rough season for me with everything that’s been going on. It’s been a rough season for me mentally.”

Now with the Bills, Jackson has the opportunity to begin anew. He’ll play under Buffalo defensive coordinator Bobby Babich and head coach Sean McDermott. To make room for him on the roster, the team released linebacker Shayne Simon.

Jackson spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Texans, suiting up in 132 games (124 starts). He joined the Broncos in 2019 where he had become a defensive captain. Across 14 seasons, he has tallied 955 tackles (737 solo), 22 interceptions and six forced fumbles. His last deal with the Broncos was for one year and $2.66 million.

More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2024 calendar year began at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially ran out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams had a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams could enter into a legal negotiation with players who will become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marked the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marked the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hit.