Patriots bring back All-Pro cornerback via trade
The New England Patriots’ cornerback depth has been decimated in recent weeks due to injuries. With four starters currently injured – including three expected to miss extended periods of time – the team made a trade on Wednesday morning to restock the top-end talent at the position.
As first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Patriots have acquired cornerback J.C. Jackson in a deal with the Los Angeles Chargers. According to SI’s Albert Breer, the Patriots are sending a 2025 sixth-round pick to Los Angeles in exchange for Jackson and a 2025 seventh-round pick.
READ MORE:
—Patriots ready to turn to promising rookie following run of injuries
—Matthew Judon undergoes surgery
—Another defensive line addition
Jackson, 27, began his career with the Patriots as a UDFA out of Maryland in 2018. Over the next four years he moved into the Patriots’ starting boundary cornerback role, replacing Stephon Gilmore during the 2021 season. That 2021 season was the best of Jackson’s career, and he was named a second-team All-Pro.
Following that season Jackson was a free agent, and signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers. In his time in LA though he never found the success he had in New England. He struggled early in the 2022 season, before suffering a season-ending patellar tendon rupture in Week 7. Jackson returned to the field this year, but was a healthy scratch two weeks ago and dressed but didn’t play a snap last week.
Back in the Patriots’ lineup, Jackson will likely slot back into his top boundary cornerback role. Rookie Christian Gonzalez, who was in that spot to start the season and played it at a high level, is now expected to miss the rest of the season due to a torn labrum, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Gonzalez is just one of many Patriots cornerbacks out right now, with Jack Jones (hamstring) and Marcus Jones (shoulder) both on IR and expected to miss significant time. Meanwhile, Jonathan Jones (ankle) remains on the active roster but hasn’t played in three weeks.
Off the field, there are two key questions surrounding Jackson’s return to New England. The first is his contract. Entering the day the Patriots didn’t have the cap space to fit Jackson’s contract, according to Patriots salary cap expert Miguel Benzan. That means a restructure is likely coming – either for Jackson or another Patriots player. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Chargers are paying “the majority” of Jackson’s $12 million salary this year. Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Patriots will pay Jackson $1.5 million this year.
While the Patriots may need to open money to add Jackson, they don’t need to add a roster spot. The team came into the week with 52 players on the 53-man roster.
Beyond 2023 Jackson’s contract has no guaranteed money, so the Patriots have more flexibility at that point. Given his level of play since arriving in LA, it seems unrealistic the Patriots would have Jackson continue to play under the original deal he signed with the Chargers.
There’s also the matter of an arrest warrant that was issues for Jackson in the state of Massachusetts last month. The warrant is due to Jackson’s failure to show up in court for charges related to reckless driving and speeding charges from 2021. There has been no official update on the warrant’s status since it was first reported on September 25. Jackson was also arrested in Massachusetts in December of last year for what was described as “a non-violent family issue.”
Read more…