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Chargers coach sets unreachable bar for new signings during OTAs

Originally posted on Bolt Beat | By Jason Reed | Last updated May 28, 2025 9:11 AM ET

LA Chargers OTAs kicked off on Tuesday and gave fans their first taste of the Bolts prior to the 2025 season. While there is still a long way to go until the 2025 regular season, fans were excited to see the new faces in LA in action. That includes cornerbacks Dontae Jackson and Benjamin St-Juste.

Jackson and St-Juste weren't widely celebrated signings when they happened. Jackson showed flashes during his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers but couldn't showcase any consistency. St-Juste had even less success. Commanders fans outright celebrated when St-Juste signed elsewhere, which is never a good sign.

It's somewhat concerning that these are the only cornerbacks the Chargers signed considering the team entered the offseason with the second-most cap space in the league. However, it's clear the Chargers are expecting more out of the cornerback tandem. Just ask defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale.

Chargers DBs coach Steve Clinkscale thinks about new signings Benjamin St-Juste and Dontae Jackson in the same vein as Kristian Fulton last year with what they can still develop in their games.

Says the Chargers wanted speed and size on the outside in free agency. pic.twitter.com/MixcMThIgg
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) May 27, 2025

Chargers want Dontae Jackson and Benjamin St-Juste to be like Kristian Fulton

Chargers fans were having similar concerns about Kristian Fulton a year ago. Fulton was one of the worst starting corners in the league with the Tennessee Titans and didn't project to be much better on the Chargers.

Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter got far more out of Fulton than the Titans were getting out of him. As a result, Fulton went from one of the worst starting cornerbacks in the sport to a serviceable corner who was a key part of the team's defense.

It is worth mentioning Fulton started to dovetail a tad toward the end of the season. That didn't keep the Kansas City Chiefs from signing him, although it shows the Chargers were getting the absolute most out of Fulton early on and that it may not be replicable.

Taking fliers on players is a great practice and is one every team should do. However, there is a big difference between taking a flier when resources are limited (which was the case with Fulton) and taking two fliers when resources are aplenty.

Thankfully, the Chargers have sophomores Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart to carry the load at the cornerback position. If it wasn't for them, fans would feel much worse about the pair of cornerbacks the team signed this offseason.

Asking Jackson and St-Juste to be like Fulton is a tall order. Lightning in a bottle isn't always replicable and the Chargers may learn that with these two veteran corners.

This article first appeared on Bolt Beat and was syndicated with permission.

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