Former Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson has been cut by the New England Patriots, according to ESPN's Field Yates. The decision comes less than six months after the Chargers had traded Jackson back to the Patriots.
Jackson turned out to be a massive free agency bust for the Chargers, under the old front office regime led by Tom Telesco. Los Angeles had signed him to a ginormous five-year, $82.5 million contract in March of 2022, but Jackson never panned out.
During his first season with the Chargers in 2022, he only played in five games before a patellar-tendon rupture ended his season pre-maturely. He returned in 2023, but struggled in pass coverage. The Chargers benched him for two games before they traded him and a 2025 seventh-round pick to the Patriots for just a sixth-round pick.
Not only did Jackson struggle on the field with the Chargers, including allowing the highest passer-rating when targeted in his career, he faced off the field issues. In December of 2022, Jackson was arrested after a non-violent family issue and another warrant for his arrest came in September of 2023.
Prior to joining the Chargers, Jackson appeared to be a good younger cornerback. IN 2020, Jackson intercepted nine passes, recovered three fumbles and recorded 14 pass break ups. In 2021, he snatched another eight interceptions, forced a fumble and led the NFL with 23 pass break ups.
It's unclear if any team will take a chance on Jackson again, but it's unlikely he'll get the same huge contract he did with the Chargers.
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