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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Isaiah Houde

Bengals CB begins recruiting pending free agent J.C. Jackson

New England Patriots free agent cornerback J.C. Jackson is one of the most talented players available this offseason.

The 26-year-old is set up for an enormous payday and it’s looking like he’s on his way out of Foxborough. It’s extremely unlikely the Patriots sign him to a long-term deal and the odds are also low on giving him the franchise tag. The Patriots would have to pay Jackson a projected $17.3 million for the year if he was to stay — and there’s only $8 million in cap space currently.

Teams with the money will be willing to dish out a large contract for an elite cornerback and Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton is aware of this. Jackson said the Patriots weren’t showing him a ton of interest at the moment and Hilton tweeted with a potential landing place.

The Bengals made their first Super Bowl in 30-plus years in 2021 and will be contenders for a long time coming with Joe Burrow at the helm. The Bengals’ defense was in the middle of the pack with interceptions (13), compared to the Patriots with 23.

Jackson had eight of the Patriots’ interceptions last season and he had nine the year before. He’s one of the best ballhawks in the NFL and Hilton knows the Bengals’ defense would be cranked up a notch with Jackson present.

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