The New England Patriots have had a busy Tuesday. The team signed restricted free agent Mike Gillislee to an offer sheet while seeing Malcolm Butler sign his, restructured wideout Danny Amendola’s contract and finally signed James White to a three-year extension.
One transaction that flew under the radar a bit was the team letting guard Tre’ Jackson go. After two injury-riddled seasons, the former fourth round draft pick was waived by New England. It did not take long, however, for Jackson to find a new home. As announced via the NFL transaction wire, Jackson has been awarded to the Los Angeles Rams off the waiver wire.
The Rams are ranked fifth on the league’s waiver rankings courtesy of the team’s 4-12 record last year. None of the four teams with worse 2016 seasons placed a waiver claim on Jackson, though, and he therefore will head to the NFC West. The 24-year old will now join an interior offensive line that faces some questions. And while Jackson might not be the solution, he has a solid chance to prove that he belongs on an NFL roster.
Seeing Jackson get claimed off waivers does not change the Patriots’ salary cap situation. He will still be on New England’s books with a dead money hit of $261,870, the last two installments of his signing bonus.