One of the most explosive personal details of this upcoming free agency is the future of cornerback JC Jackson with the New England Patriots. He is considered one of the best cornerbacks on the market – and yet it is completely unclear whether his team wants to keep him.
“Mr. INT” they call JC Jackson in Foxborough because he is known for his numerous interceptions. Rightly so, after all, no one in the NFL has caught more picks since 2018 – his rookie season – than Jerald Christopher Jackson with his 25th pick.
Jackson ranked second in the league with nine interceptions in 2020 and eight last season – only Xavien Howard (Dolphins/10) and Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs had more (11). However, the latter is generally regarded as a worse cover corner.
Jackson, on the other hand, is not only a ballhawk but also a prized cover cornerback, which are few and far between in this league. For passes in his direction, he only allowed a passer rating of 46.8 in 2021, which incidentally was only his third-best value (!) over a full season.
He was rewarded with a Pro Bowl pick for his performance – a first for him.
Overall, Jackson has had a remarkable career in his first four years in the league. And at an absolute bargain price, because the entire league had overlooked him in the 2018 draft: He finally joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent, which cost them just a little more than $ 5 million in total.
JC Jackson: A tremendous bargain for the Patriots
Most of that money came from the 2021 season, when he was held as a restricted free agent with a 2nd-round tender for a guaranteed $3.384 million, which in itself was a huge bargain for a player in his class. Jackson, judging by last season, is a top-five cornerback in the NFL.
So it should go without saying that the Patriots want to continue with him in the long term. Especially the Patriots, who invest significantly more in top cornerbacks than in top edge rushers; whose defense works primarily via a strong secondary.
However, there is a certain explosiveness in the situation here, because apparently there have not yet been any negotiations with the 26-year-old about further cooperation.
“I guess they think they don’t need me” Jackson recently told reporter Phil Perry from NBC Sports Boston. He has not had any contact with the team since the end of last season. “I guess I can’t be too important to them. I know I am, but they don’t show me that.”
A clear statement.
J.C. Jackson: Statistik in der NFL
| Season | games | Tackles | Interceptions | Passer Rating Allowed |
| 2018 | 13 | 24 | 3 | 38,8 |
| 2019 | 16 | 36 | 5 | 34,1 |
| 2020 | 16 | 40 | 9 | 66,5 |
| 2ß21 | 17 | 58 | 8 | 46,8 |
Jackson even emphasized that he would also play under the franchise tag: “If they tag me, I’ll go out and play,” Jackson said. And the franchise tag seems like a viable option to keep the cornerback at Foxborough for at least another year.
However, the current perception in local Boston-area media is that the Patriots are unwilling to capitalize on the day this season — in Jackson’s case, it would be worth around $17.3 million.
Most recently, guard Joe Thuney received the Franchise Tag in the 2020 season. However, no agreement was subsequently reached with him on a new contract, so he switched to the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent for the past season.
So could one of the best cornerbacks in the league actually make an appearance in the midst of his prime?
Patriots and Jackson: No contract talks yet
Talks with Jackson about a new contract during the 2021 season have so far been unsuccessful. “They sent positive signals,” Jackson said, but conceded, “But I wanted to focus on football at the time. I wanted to end the season properly, so I didn’t really respond to that.”
However, Jackson emphasized that he was relaxed about his future. “What happens, happens. I look from day to day,” Jackson said, but added unequivocally: “It’s time for Mr. INT to be paid.”
Whether Jackson actually comes onto the market or not shouldn’t stand in the way of this project. There are already various rumors in which numerous teams are said to be interested in the cornerback. It still seems too early to rate those, but it should have a stable market.
But what do the Patriots want? From their point of view, signing Jackson was already a great deal at the time, after all his performance in the past four years has exorbitantly exceeded the price paid.
Now, however, the question is how important Jackson actually is to New England. The evidence shows that he is very important. And that the Patriots are aware of that too.
Jackson’s rise to stardom was certainly the main reason so little effort had been made to keep Super Bowl hero Stephon Gilmore (he caught the 2018 Super Bowl LIII playoff interception against the Rams) in the preseason and beyond. Gilmore was ultimately fired mid-season, knowing that Jackson can replace him as the No. 1 corner.
Jackson: Ideal successor to Stephon Gilmore
Jackson as Gilmore’s successor fitted well into the concept given the additional staff. Opposite Jalen Mills was able to flourish as a good number 2 and Jon Jones is seeded in the slot anyway – if fit.
But what if you take Jackson out of that equation? Does everyone move up a spot then? Should Mills then play against the opponent’s No. 1? In addition, do you trust people like Joejuan Williams, Shaun Wade or Myles Bryant so much that this departure could be accepted?
With linebacker Dont’a Hightower and safety Devin McCourty two other top performers becoming free agents, it might be even more important to keep your best cornerback. Especially since the front in particular seems to be facing a major upheaval anyway and stability further back would then be an advantage.
Patriots: Will the “Hightower Tactic” work again?
A possible approach for New England could be the tactics once used at said Hightower. When he became a free agent in 2017, the decision was made not to franchise him. Instead, he was allowed to test his market and negotiate with other teams, with an always-open channel of communication to New England. Ultimately he decided to stay.
However, the big difference from back then seems to be that the team has always been in good contact with Hightower. With Jackson, however, there is apparently radio silence.
The first key date in this personnel area will be March 8th, because that is when the decision about the franchise day has to be made. After that, the personnel could get hot from March 14, because from then on free agents can negotiate with other teams.
And by then at the latest we will know what will become of the best available cornerback. In any case, Mr. INT will be paid.