Patriots: JC Jackson’s confidence going into 2020 will be a sight to behold
Get ready for another incredible year from JC Jackson, Patriots fans.
Though Stephon Gilmore won Defensive Player of the Year last season, New England Patriots fans cannot overlook the contributions of fellow cornerback JC Jackson, who quietly emerged as one of the best defensive backs in the NFL throughout 2019.
In fact, his rise in the Patriots secondary has no doubt allowed Gilmore to shine even brighter. It’s hard to argue that.
You thought Jackson’s play was great last year? Well, his attitude is even better. When you consider off-the-field issues derailed his college career and led to him being undrafted in 2018, it’s clear Belichick has worked wonders in harnessing this young man’s talent. And Jackson’s hard work to make the difficult transition is perhaps even more impressive.
JC Jackson asked about getting ranked by PFF and NEXGEN Stats as one of the best CBs in the NFL.
— Henry McKenna (@McKennAnalysis) August 31, 2020
Jackson: "I'm not surprised. I know what I can do. ... My stats from last year don't mean anything."
Cocky … yet humble? Is that possible? Truth be told, it’s admirable. He’s confident in his abilities, but isn’t going to think about his 2019 success having an impact on the upcoming, unpredictable campaign.
Entering his third year, Jackson already has 60 tackles, 16 passes defensed, and eight interceptions in 29 games (only 11 starts!). Now he’ll have a much bigger role in 2020 with Jason McCourty getting up there in age and the secondary suffering the loss of Patrick Chung.
Jackson will be a restricted free agent in the offseason and the Patriots need to make sure he remains in New England regardless of what kind of offers come his way. A player who possesses this much trust in his game and backs it up is truly invaluable.
JC Jackson says he's not surprised that he's starting to be recognized as one of the NFL's best cornerbacks.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) August 31, 2020
Also feels like he can "cover anything" when asked about defending the deep ball vs. shorter routes out of the slot.
The only counterargument here is that the Pats might want to see how he’s able to perform without the help of the league’s best cornerback, but consider this argument for a moment.
He’s playing opposite Gilmore, meaning it’s more likely quarterbacks target him instead of the Patriots’ No. 1 corner. Since making his debut in 2018, he’s allowed just one touchdown. No wonder he’s this poised. That alone proves he’s essential to arguably the top defense in the league.
