Twitter users could not help themselves make jokes about King of Pop after the New England Patriots got a cornerback named Michael Jackson in a trade Sunday.
But, football nerd fact: The cornerback will be at least the second Michael Jackson to coach Bill Belichick in the NFL. Late wide receiver Michael Jackson was one of Belichick’s first draft picks with the Cleveland Browns in 1991.
The Michael Jackson, who was traded to the Patriots on Sunday, however, has big size for a cornerback at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds. He ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2019 before being selected in the fifth round of the draft that year. He was hand-timed at 4.39 seconds. He tested impressive, otherwise could also, run a 4.12-second short shuttle and 7.12-second three-cone drill with a 40.5-inch vertical jump and 10-foot, 10-inch wide jump.
His weight, vertical jump and wide jump all rate above the 90th percentile under NFL angles.
In 2018, he left just 25 catches on 49 goals for 325 yards with one touchdown at the University of Miami, per PFF. He forced eight imperfections that season and could only give a 79 passer rating. He was even better as a junior, scoring just 24 catches on 47 goals for 237 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions for a 37.3 passer rating.
The Cowboys drafted Jackson before awaiting him on cuts. He then spent nearly two months at the Dallas training camp before Detroit signed him.
The Lions intended to wait for Jackson on Sunday, but instead traded him to the Patriots for a conditional seventh round of 2022. The Patriots essentially bought him for free. This is Belichick’s fourth deal with the Lions with a veteran player since 2000. The Patriots have acquired Jackson, linebacker Kyle Van Noy and cornerback Johnson Bademosi from the Lions. They previously rented this offseason safety Duron Harmon to the Lions.
Jackson played in one press game last summer, allowing five catches on six goals for 84 yards in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers as a member of the Cowboys.
In New England, he will compete with fellow backs Justin Bethel, Myles Bryant, Stephon Gilmore, JC Jackson, Jonathan Jones, Jason McCourty, D’Angelo Ross and Joejuan Williams plus safetys Terrence Brooks, Cody Davis, Kyle Dugger, Devin McCourty and Adrian Phillips for snaps this summer. Jackson, at this point, would probably have to be seen as a longshot for a roster spot, though his combination of size, athleticism and college production is downright intriguing.
The Patriots currently have 76 players on their active roster. More than 80 players would force themselves to practice with split teams, which they try to avoid.
The Patriots can sign four more players before training camp officially begins Aug. 17. The Patriots can begin unusual practices in a disaster period that begins Wednesday.
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