Indianapolis, Ind. – The Patriots roster tinkering continued ahead of the new league year as New England officially released cornerback J.C. Jackson on Friday.
Jackson’s release was expected due to his $14.4 million cap hit for the upcoming season, with the Patriots saving over $13 million in cap space by releasing Jackson. According to cap wizard Miguel Benzan (@PatsCap), the Patriots now have a projected $103 million in cap space with legal tampering beginning on March 11.
New England moving on from Jackson leaves them with the following corners under contract for 2024: Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Shaun Wade, Isaiah Bolden, and Marco Wilson. Do-it-all DB Myles Bryant is an unrestricted free agent, while second-year corner Alex Austin, who finished strong in 2023, is an exclusive rights free agent.
New England’s defense is at its best when it has a third rotational corner who can cover in passing situations. Over the years, we’ve referred to this as the Jason McCourty role. Marcus Jones could play on the outside in certain matchups or come on as a primary nickel when the Patriots face lighter personnel, but you’d like to see them have some size as an option.
After finishing the 2023 season strong, retaining Austin, who is listed at 6-1, 191 pounds with good length, could be the answer. Bolden also had a solid rookie camp last summer before his scary head injury in Green Bay, and there are veteran options such as a reunion with Stephon Gilmore.
Ultimately, Jackson, who was unreliable last season, wasn’t returning to the Patriots at his old cap number. Turning our attention back to the scouting combine, the Pats announced Jackson’s release while cornerbacks worked out on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium.
As we reflect on Friday night’s workouts, we’ll discuss options at cornerback in the draft. First, a more pressing need entering the new league year is at tight end, where the Patriots don’t have any…
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