Patriots: Projecting a big-money JC Jackson extension

What would a potential extension for Patriots cornerback JC Jackson look like?

Given how short they came to living up to their standards this season, the New England Patriots can be expect to be pretty busy in the offseason. From getting their quarterback situation sorted out, to adding a stud No. 1 wide receiver and possibly signing a star edge rusher, they will have no shortage of priorities on their to-do list.

However, in order to get a better idea of what positions need to be addressed, the front office should first look to re-sign free agents who they feel deserve a future with the organization.

When it comes to cornerback JC Jackson, the Patriots better be prepared to get their check book out, because he deserves a monster payday. With that in mind, let’s dive into what a potential big-money extension for him could look like.

To know what kind of money Jackson deserves, we have to start by examining his production on the field.

Since entering the NFL in 2018, no defender has allowed a lower completion rate (51%) and passer rating (44.0). With a perennial All-Pro in Stephon Gilmore often lining up opposite him, Jackson has been targeted a whopping 192 times during that span, so it’s not like he’s posting these ridiculous numbers with a small sample size.

The third-year pro has impressively eclipsed the standards he set for himself over his first two seasons, ranking third in passer rating allowed (52.0) and second in interceptions (eight). You would think those numbers warranted a Pro Bowl nod, but that’s a discussion for another day.

We won’t go as far as to say that Jackson should be made one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in the league, but he should be pretty darn close to that distinction. To get a better idea of what we’re working with, here’s what some of the wealthiest CBs are set to earn in 2021:

• Jalen Ramsey: $17.5 million
• Byron Jones: $14 million
• James Bradberry: $13.9 million
• Kyle Fuller: $13 million

Taking all of this into account, the Patriots should probably offer Jackson something along the lines of a four-year, $42 million extension, which (based on annual average salary) would see him crack the top 10 as far as highest-paid cornerbacks are concerned.

We know how much Bill Belichick hates handing out weighty contracts, but he’ll have to swallow his pride in this case because Jackson will deserve every penny of his future deal. In this circumstance, however, he’ll bank a cool $10.5 million per year.

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