The “Isle of Denial” is headed back to the Atlantic waters off the coast of New England.
The New England Patriots began their Wednesday morning by reacquiring Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson and a 2025 seventh-round draft selection for a 2025 sixth-round pick. Despite spending just over one season with the Bolts, Jackson is best-known for his time wearing Patriots blue from 2018-21 — a four-year which stint which included a Super Bowl championship (LIII) and earning nods as a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro.
While Jackson's return was certainly exciting news for what is left of the 'Foxboro Faithful' after the team's Week 4 38-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, it did not come without its bad-news complement.
Rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who left Sunday's game after jamming his shoulder in a tackle attempt, was confirmed to have suffered a torn shoulder labrum. As a result, Gonzalez will require to repair the injury, likely ending what had been a promising start to his first season in the NFL. In just three games (and approximately one quarter of play against Dallas,) the no. 17 overall pick earned 17 total tackles, three passes defensed, one interception and a Week 1 sack of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback on a corner blitz. Perhaps most importantly, Gonzalez was credited with allowing only 11 catches on 20 targets for 124 yards and zero touchdowns.
Though losing a talent as dynamic as Gonzalez is devastating enough for a struggling 1-3 team, it was a potential knock-out punch for the Pats secondary. New England's defensive backfield is already without the services of cornerbacks Jonathan Jones (who has missed three games with an ankle injury,) along with both Marcus and Jack Jones who are currently on injured reserve.
With the Pats seemingly in desperate need of reinforcements at the position, they turned to the Chargers to facilitate a deal for Jackson.
After spending the first four seasons of his career with the Pats, Jackson traded the east coast for the west by signing a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Bolts in March 2022. With the specter of his rookie contract expiring at the end of the 2021 season, Jackson and the Patriots frequently found themselves at a stalemate during negotiations. As a result, the former Maryland Terrapin felt somewhat disrespected by the team which originally signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
Still, Jackson joined Los Angeles having finished his most productive season as a pro. Through seventeen regular season games in 2021, the 27-year-old logged 44 solo tackles, a league-leading 23 passes-defensed and eight interceptions, with one having been returned for a touchdown. His eight interceptions were the second-most in the NFL, behind Dallas Cowboys’ cornerback Trevon Diggs (11). For his efforts, Jackson was elected to his first Pro Bowl, as well as earning a selection as a second-team All-Pro. He finished his first tour of duty with the Patriots having compiled 158 total tackles, 53 passes defensed and 25 interceptions.
In contrast to his success in New England, Jackson played in just seven games over two seasons as a member of the Chargers, totaling 18 combined tackles with five passes defensed and one interception. He played just five games in 2022 due to a ruptured patellar tendon. Through the first four games of 2023, Jackson steadily fell out of favor with the Chargers coaching staff. After serving as a healthy scratch last week against the Minnesota Vikings, his days in the City of Angels appeared to be numbered.
Though the Pats had been monitoring the chances of Jackson being released by the Bolts, the rash of recent injuries likely tipped their hand in favor of completing the trade. Fortunately for New England, Jackson's return came at a relatively inexpensive price. In order to facilitate the trade, ESPN has reported that the Pats and Chargers are reworking the remaining $9.3 million in salary for 2023, with New England agreeing to cover approximately $1.5 million, and the Bolts covering the rest via signing bonus. While Jackson is in the second year of his deal with the Chargers, there is no guaranteed salary left on his contract beyond this season.
In the final analysis, New England's trade for J.C. Jackson seemingly fits the "low-risk; high-reward" mantra which has served the team well during coach Bill Belichick's tenure. However, an additional point worth monitoring is that Jackson had a bit of legal trouble in late-September, when police in North Attleboro, Mass. issued an arrest warrant after probation violation stemming from a 2021 arrest for "criminal speeding." His legal situation remains on-going.
Yet, Jackson's ability to adapt as both a lockdown corner, and a ball-hawking defensive back should allow him to make a significant and positive impact on New England's defense. With linebacker Matthew Judon also heading to injured reserve after suffering a torn biceps tendon, the Patriots were in need of a playmaker on defense.
They obtained one in Jackson.
The only question remaining is whether their union will work as well — if not better — the second time around?
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