Oftentimes even in the most complex situations the answer is right before our eyes.
In the terms of the top priority of the Patriots offseason, that’s exactly the case.
The first step of team-building, turn-the-page-to-2022 business in Foxborough is an obvious one.
It’s not figuring out a way to sign a big-money dreamy WR come March. It’s not culling through all the pre-Draft data to settle on a speedy defensive playmaker or future franchise left tackle in April.
Nope. It’s far simpler than that. It’s as simple as a nameplate in the Gillette Stadium locker room. It’s right before Bill Belichick’s retooling eyes.
The first priority of the Patriots offseason should be signing Pro Bowl cornerback J.C. Jackson to a long-term deal to retain him as the playmaking lynchpin in the back end of the New England defense for the foreseeable future.
Once somewhat lost in the shadow of Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore in the Patriots defensive backfield, Jackson stepped into the spotlight last fall to prove he was no second fiddle.
With Gilmore inactive and later traded to the Panthers, Jackson took over the critical No. 1 cornerback role in Belichick’s defense and did so at an elite level. Declaring that the 17 interceptions from his first three years in the NFL were no sloppy-seconds fluke, the former undrafted free agent finished second in the league with eight interceptions while starting all 17 games.
Without Gilmore on the other side, Jackson wasn’t exposed but rather exposed himself to the football world as clearly one of the top cornerbacks in the game today.
Now, to keep that kind of talent in New England the Patriots are going to have to pay handsomely for it. And there is no reason they can’t or shouldn’t do just that. Actually, history would show there is every reason for Belichick to reach deep into Robert Kraft’s checkbook once again to keep Jackson.
History tells us that when Belichick’s Patriots have a high-end defense, a defense worthy of playoff and maybe even Super Bowl hopes, that it includes a true No. 1 cornerback. Ty Law, Asante Samuel, Aqib Talib, Darrelle Revis, Malcolm Butler, Gilmore and now Jackson. In New England, as is really the case in all NFL cities in these modern pass-happy times, an elite cornerback is a need not a want.
History also tells us that No. 1 cornerbacks generally require a massive financial investment. Heck, the five-year, $65 million contract that the Patriots gave Gilmore to lure him away from the Bills in free agency that just ran out remains a top-10 deal at the position.
But that doesn’t mean that the Patriots necessarily have to match or beat the market-setting, $100 million deal that the Rams recently gave Jalen Ramsey. Ramsey was a former top-5 pick the Rams traded two first-round picks for. He had plenty of leverage and was younger at the time of the signing. Consensus would probably say he’s better. And L.A. has proven itself less than financially responsible in recent years.
More likely the 26-year-old Jackson could be in line for a deal in the $80-$90 million range over five seasons.
Yes, it’s a lot of money. But it’s the cost of doing business to some degree and it’s really just the inflationary evolution of the deal the Patriots gave Gilmore.
Also, it’s not like the Patriots have an obvious replacement in place. There is no developing talent the way Jackson was on track to fill Gilmore’s shoes. Former second-round pick Joejuan Williams has barely found his way on the field in three seasons, never mind proven his worth. Former undrafted player Myles Bryant is what he is as a versatile, scrappy backup.
Veteran Jalen Mills was arguably miscast as a No. 2 opposite Jackson last fall, forget about him sliding into the No. 1 role.
Sure New England could try to draft a corner in the first round and slide him into the starting lineup. It kinda worked for the team with Devin McCourty back in the day. But it’s a perilous proposition at best.
Or maybe a trade or veteran signing at a lower cost than Jackson would do the trick. Maybe.
But why risk it when you have the most consistent, effective ball hawk in the NFL in your own locker room in the prime of his career? A guy who’s more than proven himself in your system. A guy who teammates raved about last year, focusing on his development in terms of preparation, work ethic and football IQ.
And yes, the Patriots could avoid the huge contract by using the franchise tag on Jackson for one season. But that in itself comes with a massive $17-plus million payout for just one season. It’s a short-term answer that tends to lead to long-term divorce. Longer deals can come with more salary cap flexibility, at least early on.
Oh, and with Mac Jones on his rookie contract, isn’t now the time to pay elite players at other positions around him to try to build a title contender? Isn’t that the whole point of having a starting QB on a rookie contract?
Is Jackson the best cornerback in the NFL? Probably not.
But he’s in the upper tier of No. 1 corners and, really, there are no true shutdown, can’t-be-beat cover guys anymore. Just watch Ramsey’s work in the NFC title game and Super Bowl for evidence of that.
But Jackson is damn good. He has been for four years in a Patriots uniform. In the business of the NFL he’s very much earned the massive paycheck that he’s about to get.
And he should get that payday from the Patriots.
New England has a lot of work to do this offseason.
Belichick has to overcome significant changes to his coaching staff, find a way to take Jones and his offense to the next level and rebuild an aging, fading defense. It’s formidable to-do list that’s fraught with potential pitfalls.
But the first order of business is simple. As simple as finding a way to get a deal done with Jackson to keep him in New England for the long term.
All it takes is money. It’s a costly but necessary obvious first step.
