USAT: Patriots Wire audio clip

USAT: Patriots Wire

Jan 30, 2022

The New England Patriots traded away their No. 1 cornerback, Stephon Gilmore, in 2021 because they impossibly had a replacement lined up: J.C. Jackson. New England, however, does not have another elite corner in the pipeline, which makes for a big decision about Jackson’s pending free agency in 2022. - Jackson was a restricted free agent in 2021 when the team placed a second-round tender on him. They seemed to be almost tempting teams to sign him away — and give back a second-round pick in return. No one bit. New England then traded Gilmore away for a sixth-round pick during the 2021 season and thrust Jackson into the No. 1 role that he’d already held with Gilmore out due to injury. - So will the Patriots keep Jackson around through 2022? Or are they devising a plan on how to replace him? Here are four options New England has with its star cornerback.

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