Daniel Kucin Jr./Associated Press
Free agent William Jackson III’s cornerback reportedly reached an agreement with the Washington Football Team on Tuesday, according to ESPN Adam Schefter.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the three-year deal was worth about $ 14 million annually.
The 28-year-old was the 24th overall choice in the 2016 Houston NFL draft, and he spent his first five seasons in the NFL with Cincinnati Bengals. He has been a full-time starter in each of the past three seasons, but reached the free agent market after the 2020 campaign.
Jackson’s NFL career started less than ideally, as he missed the entire debut season after breaking a chest muscle during preseason.
He managed to recover and work his way into rotation the following season, appearing in 15 games and making five games. He ended up with 27 tackles, an interception, a sack and 14 defended passes in what was his actual rookie campaign.
Jackson started in 43 of the 44 games in which he appeared in the following three seasons, recording an interception each in 2019 and 2020 and a total of 27 pass separations in these three combined seasons.
In 2020, the former Cougars star started all 14 games in which he appeared for the 4-11-1 at Bengals and ended with a career record of 45 tackles to go along with a choice and 11 defended passes.
Although Jackson was a solid player, although nothing spectacular, during his career in the NFL, it is fair to say that he has not yet lived up to his choice status in the first round. The main reason for this is the lack of great moves, as he recorded only three interceptions, a sack and no forced fumble or fumble recoveries during his NFL career.
It is hard to say whether Jackson will ever be able to become more of an ace in the cornerback position, but if he can make some strides in that area, then Washington may have a chance to steal his hands in free will.