Update 8/9/2020: Patriots trade conditional seventh-round draft pick to Lions to acquire cornerback Michael Jackson
As first reported by Jeff Howe of The Athletic, the Patriots sent a conditional seventh-round pick to the Lions in order to bring Michael Jackson on board. The conditions are based on playing time, which means that the 23-year-old will need to make the team and see some action in order for the 2022 draft pick to change hands.
Original story 8/9/2020: Patriots acquire cornerback Michael Jackson via trade from the Lions
The New England Patriots have the NFL’s best cornerback group heading into the 2020 NFL season, but that does not mean they are not interested in adding more talent to the equation: as was announced by both teams involved in the transaction, the Patriots have acquired now-former Detroit Lions cornerback Michael Jackson for an undisclosed 2022 draft pick.
Jackson originally arrived in the league as a fifth-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2019. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound defender started his rookie campaign on the Cowboys’ practice squad, but was signed to the Lions’ 53-man roster in late October. He went on to appear in one game for his new club, and played two snaps on special teams without registering any statistics.
Now, Jackson is on the move again and will join a cornerback group that is headed by the NFL’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Stephon Gilmore. The Patriots also have Jason McCourty, J.C. Jackson, Jonathan Jones, Joejuan Williams, Justin Bethel, D’Angelo Ross and Myles Bryant under contract at the position. Accordingly, Jackson is not guaranteed a spot on New England’s roster this year despite the team investing a draft pick in him.