The New England Patriots, for years, have had one of the best secondaries in the NFL. That centered around cornerbacks like Aqib Talib, Darrelle Revis, Malcolm Butler, Stephon Gilmore and, currently, J.C. Jackson.
So what happens in 2022 if Jackson leaves? Then what?
Well, it’s anyone’s guess. The Patriots have tremendous uncertainty at the cornerback position, with Jackson slated to hit free agency. He is an obvious candidate for the franchise tag, but the Patriots do not have enough cap space ($8 million) to fit that kind of contract ($17 million) under the cap. So New England will either have to free up space, sign him to a long-term deal or let him walk in free agency.
But that’s just one of the Patriots’ players at the position. Let’s dive into the group.