Hidden Patriots: Big Cornerback With Rare Traits Reportedly Landed Via Trade

The New England Patriots will enter the 2021 NFL season with a different roster. The team has to address several topics in the offseason. A hidden Patriots player may be of great help for the team next season.

Mike Jackson didn’t have a chance to contribute in 2020, but he may have a better shot in 2021.

Jackson was traded days to a team packed at his position, so the young cornerback had his struggles last summer. He suffered a hamstring injury late in training camp but the team waived him Sept. 3. Jackson joined the Patriots’ practice unit Sept. 28. He stayed until Jan 2. and was promoted to the actiive roster. Jackson did play in Week 7 against the New York Jets.

Hidden Patriots star impressed analysts at the NFL Combine

Jackson measures at 6 feet 1, 210 pounds. He has ane xcellent sixe for his position and he can really cover bigger receivers. The Dallas Cowboys selected him in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Miami. The team waived him out of the rookie training camp and Jackson spent  some time on the Cowboys’ practice unit before being signed away by the Detroit Lions. Jackson had one game for the Lions in 2019 and the team sent him to New England last August.

The young cornerback is an explosive athlete. He ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash with a 40.5-inch vertical leap, 10-feet, 10-inch broad jump, 4.12-second short shuttle and 7.12-second 3-cone drill at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2019. It’s interesting to note that the Seattle Seahawks didn’t give him a chance. Jackson is the type of player they look for to build rosters.

Cornerbacks like Jackson are rare to find. He combined the right size and athleticism. Of the 71 cornerbacks who did their workout at the combine since 2019, only 31 were 6 feet 1 or taller. Only nine of these ran a 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds or less. Only two of these had a vertical leap over 40 inches: Jackson and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl champion Jamel Dean.