At least one prominent Patriots Insider expects them to let J.C. Jackson leave for greener pastures this offseason. NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran told “Gresh & Keefe” Tuesday he doesn’t expect New England to franchise the self-proclaimed “Mr. INT.”
“I think the most likely scenario is they let him go,” Curran said. “They don’t franchise him, and he moves on.”
The deadline to franchise players is March 8. The tag for corners is around $17 million. In an interview last week with NBC Sports Boston, Jackson made no qualms about his desire to cash in, and expressed frustration with the Patriots for not reaching out.
“I guess they feel like they don't need me," Jackson told Phil Perry. “I guess I can't be that important to them. I know I am, but they're not showing me.”
While Jackson leads the NFL with 25 interceptions since 2018, he seems to be more opportunistic than dominant. Six of his eight interceptions last season came against the Jets, Panthers and Jaguars.
Stefon Diggs lit him up for 10 catches, 145 yards and a touchdown during the Bills’ final two meetings against the Patriots.
With success developing corners — Jackson was undrafted, just like Malcolm Butler — the Patriots could decide it’s better to spend money elsewhere.
“I think they’re gonna look at the $17 million price tag, and say, ‘Look, we’re gonna have to jump through a whole mess of hoops if we want to franchise him,’” Curran said. “He’s probably not going to agree to anything less than an $80 or $90 million deal. Do we really feel as if he is that kind of a corner? Is he a productive, opportunistic corner who makes plays for us? Or is he taking away players completely, like Jalen Ramsey does, like Stephon Gilmore does, like Darrelle Revis did? I don’t think he is that.”
Jackson’s performance last season may be his ceiling. He was elected second-team All-Pro, but disappeared when the Patriots needed him most.
“No one is afraid of JC Jackson,” Curran said. “He makes them pay for that sometimes, but generally speaking, nobody is afraid of going at JC Jackson.”
Listen to the full interview here:
