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The New England Patriots had a critical decision to make regarding star cornerback J.C. Jackson ahead of the franchise tag deadline on March 8. After a number of teams elected to use the franchise tag on star players in order to keep them in town for one more year, Ben Volin reports that the Patriots opted against placing Jackson under the tag. Thus, the 2021 Pro Bowler is set to hit the open market as a free agent.
League source confirms the Patriots officially did not use the Franchise Tag on JC Jackson by today's 4 p.m. deadline. Would have been $17.3m on a one-year deal. Jackson will be a free agent on March 16 and should be in line for a huge contract
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) March 8, 2022
Jackson is in line to earn a monster contract in free agency, where he should be among the most sought-after players on the market. The Patriots' decision not to retain Jackson at a price of $17.3 million could come back to haunt them when other teams begin to submit offers to the 26-year-old.
Jackson is reportedly seeking a contract worth as much as $20 million annually, something it's difficult to imagine the Patriots being willing to pay. Their decision not to place the franchise tag on Jackson could be an indication that they won't attempt to re-sign him in free agency, opening the door for him to receive his big payday elsewhere.
The Patriots have enjoyed the fruit of Jackson's labors over the past few seasons. The Maryland product went undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft, but latched on with the Patriots and proved a reliable contributor. He started five games as a rookie and developed into a key cog in New England's secondary.
Last season, Jackson made his first-ever Pro Bowl, recording 8 interceptions, 58 tackles, and a league-high 23 pass breakups. It's easy to see why he wants to be paid like the top cornerback in football, and there could very well be a team willing to pony up and meet his demands, though it's unlikely to be the Patriots.
