Stephon Gilmore isn't the only Patriots cornerback that has some things to work out when it comes to his future with the team.
The other is JC Jackson.
Jackson signed a second-round tender this offseason, which will pay him $3.4 million. The 25-year-old could have given him a contract extension instead, but opted to go the tender route, which will make him a free agent after the season.
“I had a feeling they were going to tender me anyway,” Jackson said to reporters after Saturday's training camp practice. “I wasn’t expecting no contract extension yet.”
What about his future in New England -- does he want to stay here long term?
“We’ll discuss that later,” Jackson said. “Right now my focus is on training camp and getting better.”
Jackson believes he's a No. 1 corner, but also said that's the mindset good players at the position have.
“You have to have that chip on your shoulder. You have to have that confidence,” he said. “So that’s how I approach it every day.”
While the Patriots could potentially make it work, it does seem like they will need to choose between Jackson and Gilmore beyond this season.