Report: After eyeing an $82 million All-Pro CB, the Vikings fumble a potential deal.
To increase its chances, the new Minnesota Vikings administration has demonstrated its willingness to make trades in the middle of the season.
Both offensive lineman Dalton Risner and running back Cam Akers were added to Minnesota’s roster last month, showing that the team hasn’t given up on the season despite a sluggish start.
The Los Angeles Chargers All-Pro cornerback J.
was another veteran who the Vikings were interested in signing because he could help with their defense.
C. Jackson.
If the Chargers had snatched J.
C. Jackson, there was going to be interest from the Vikings, according to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, who also stated that the Vikings were not interested in a trade because of the burden of taking on Jackson’s five-year, $82 point five million contract, which he signed last year.
However, Minnesota missed out on what might have been a simple trade for the lockdown corner for the New England Patriots as details of the trade for Jackson have come to light.
The Chargers were persuaded to part ways with Jackson with just a late-round pick exchange.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Patriots will trade Jackson and a seventh-round pick to Los Angeles in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick.
In addition, the Chargers paid Jackson’s $7.7 million bonus to make the deal possible, leaving the Patriots with just a $1.55 million base salary to pay for the remaining portion of the season, according to ESPN’s Field Yates.
There are no guarantees for Jackson’s final three years, so New England is free to renegotiate the contract or release him.
Jackson’s base salary could have easily been accepted by Minnesota, which has $9.5 million in cap space available for this season.
Jackson would also have been the perfect outside corner for a struggling Vikings cornerback group.
He and Brian Flores won a Super Bowl together in New England.
J. C. Brian Flores of the Vikings finds Jackson to be the ideal reunion.
JC Jackson, a former cornerback for the Los Angeles Chargers, warming up before an NFL game.
Jackson, a strong cornerback from Maryland who had only played two years of college football, was an undeveloped prospect and was not selected.
Jackson’s development into one of the NFL’s top man-coverage cornerbacks was sparked when the Patriots signed him during his rookie season.
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF) analyst Anthony Treash, Jackson is the league’s fourth-best outside corner going into the 2022 offseason.
“The former Patriot ranks second in man coverage grade since 2018,” Treash wrote.
He has intercepted 19 passes in man coverage during that time, which is five more than the player in second place and twice as many as the player in third.
He is impossible to throw at because of his mirror ability and poise at the catch point.
“.
Jackson’s skill set was unsuitable for coach Brandon Staley’s zone-heavy coverage scheme just a few games into his second season in Los Angeles.
Before sustaining a knee injury that ended his season in 2022, he only played in five games.
Jackson had a difficult time acclimating to the new system, allowing 19 receptions on 27 targets while in coverage for four touchdowns and a passer rating of 152 points.
But the fact that he has a lifetime 60.4 passer rating allowed says a lot about how effective he is when used as a shadow cover man who can go up against any team’s best pass catcher.
With Byron Murphy Jr. at the top corners, the Vikings are lacking that.
Mekhi Blackmon, a rookie, Akayleb Evans, and others all have difficulties.
According to PFF, three cornerbacks are allowing more than a 125 point passer rating when targeted this season.
Troubles with Vikings coverage so far.
The Vikings have primarily used Murphy and Evans on the outside while playing safety Josh Metellus at nickel cornerback through four weeks.
Murphy would prefer to be in the slot after spending more than 1,500 snaps inside during his time with the Arizona Cardinals.
Murphy is now primarily used as an outside linebacker because Blackmon has been gradually added to the defensive rotation.
The Vikings should keep giving the young corners opportunities because they are committed to developing Evans and Blackmon.
The hiring of a Murphy fits that strategy.
The Vikings, however, could use some seasoned assistance after four games.
