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Free Agent Snapshot: Vincent Jackson 03.01.12 at 1:06 am ET
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Vincent Jackson has been in the league for seven years, all with the Chargers. (AP)

We continue our look at 15 possible fits for the Patriots in free agency this offseason with a breakdown of wide receiver Vincent Jackson. With the understanding that the NFL’s franchise tag window is from now until March 5 (which means some of these players we list could ultimately be retained by their team) here are some players worth keeping an eye on that might be a fit in New England when free agency begins March 13:

Vincent Jackson
Position: Wide receiver
Age: 29
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 230 pounds

If he somehow shakes free of the Chargers — that is to say, if San Diego doesn’t franchise him (which is still a serious question between now and the March 5 deadline) — Jackson appears to be the biggest name available among the free agent wide receivers. Big, strong and fast, Jackson has topped 1,000 yards three of the last four seasons, including 60 catches for 1,106 yards and nine touchdowns for San Diego last year. (According to Pro Football Focus, his 18.4 yards per catch was fifth in the league for wide receivers who played at least 50 percent of their teams snaps.)

Recent reports indicate that Jackson could be on the Patriots’ short list. In addition, there was plenty of talk about a Jackson-to-New England trade when he was going through his latest contract flap in San Diego in 2010. Jackson is also used to playing with an elite tight end (Antonio Gates), and has been a key part of a high-powered passing game for the last several years.

Jackson has always done well against the Patriots. In last year’s Week 2 matchup, he finished with 10 catches for 172 yards (both season highs) and a pair of touchdowns. In his three career games against New England, he has 19 catches for 359 yards (tops for any opponent he’s faced outside the AFC West) and three touchdowns).

Why it might not work: If the Chargers franchise him, he’ll stick with San Diego for another year. But if he does hit the open market, he’ll likely draw top dollar for free agent wide receivers, which could ultimately leave the Patriots looking elsewhere. It’s going to be a fluid market for wide receivers, and depending on who gets tagged, it could create some market uncertainty for elite receivers like Jackson, Wes Welker, Reggie Wayne, DeSean Jackson, Marques Colton, Dwayne Bowe, Stevie Johnson and Brandon Lloyd, who are all still possibilities to hit the open market.

Read More: Antonio Gates, Brandon Lloyd, DeSean Jackson, Dwayne Bowe Print  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • Dano S

    Jackson and Welker together would be awesome for Brady.Mock Draft 17.0
    1 Kendall Reyes DL Connecticut 1Vinny Curry DE Marshall 2 Jamell Fleming CB Oklahoma
    2 Jonathan Massaquoi DE/LB Troy 3 Andrew Datko OL Florida St 4 Anthony Allen S South Carolina. 

  • Bhdyer20

    Dude I just want to point out that you have now done 17 mock drafts!  17?  That is excessive.  I get you love this stuff but maybe doing a different mock draft for one team every day for one team is a bit much.  Don’t you have to do a mock draft for all 32 teams to actually figure out who they might have a shot at getting?  Have you really done 17 mock drafts for the entire league?  That has to be a bit exhausting.

  • aljay

    I’m more interested in knowing how Jackson did against elite defenses and our toughest competitors

  • Jonahwit2

    I would love to see BB bite the bullit and sign one of those top free agent wr’s. (Colston appeals to me personally) Likewise it would offer that a top db could help big time. I really think they will have room under the cap. On the draft I am still convinced that he needs to go def all the way at least until he finds out if Light & Waters are coming back. If they retire it changes everything but until he knows stick with what you know.

  • Jonahwit2

    Gee Dano I have to think your reaching for every pick here. Every mock I see has every one of these guys well down the boards, but hey, maybe you know better.

  • Dano S

    Thanks for your reply. My picks are based on my research and watching alot of college football.
    Plus some guys like say Bruschi that I feel will be great players for Pats not just what they can do at combine. Mock Draft 18.0 1 Jared Crick DE Nebraska 1 Janoris Jenkins CB N.Alabama
    2 Fletcher Cox DE Mississippi St 2 Peter Konz C Wisconsin 3 T.Y. Hilton WR Florida International 4 George Iloka S Boise St. 

  • Cousin Joey P.

    No way on God’s green earth do the Pats spend big money on a FA WR. Look at Ochocinco, there is just no way to tell how a guy picks up the scheme. You give Jackson $30 million up front, (bacuse that’s what it wll take) and if he can’t figure it out, they are screwed. If he had a year or two left on a contract, that is one thing, then you roll the dice maybe, but they aren’t handing this guy a $30 MD signing bonus and then having to eat that salary cap space for 4 years.

  • jj

    Would love if they got this guy. Then draft a highly rated corner and pass rusher.

  • Semperfi24

    Though I dont know I am as annoyed with it as Bhyder, lol, what is the point of the “.0″ at the end of it?  Do you ever have a 17.1 or 17.2 or 17.3, or does it just go directly to 18?  Out of curiosity, have you ever gotten a player right?  Like Jerod Mayo a few years ago, for most fans, he was completely out of left field.  Most had never even heard of Jerod Mayo…

    To your point CousinJoeyP, is there any wonder why they have missed badly on their wide receiver choices in the draft.  This offense is very tough for some players.  Players like Ocho, and Galloway come to mind.  Very good players that couldnt cut it.  But dont forget about the guys that came in and did get it.  Welker was able to assimilate himself to the offense, as did Randy Moss (with pretty much no preseason).  I dont pretend to know enough to make an educated guess on these things, but I defer to BB.  If he thinks it is worth it, then I think it is worth.  The demeanor by a lot of fans would lead me to believe the Pats are getting ready to draft in the top 3 in April, they just went to the Super Bowl for Christ’s sake, lol…  Not saying you are one of those people CousinJoeyP, just saying

  • Bruinman86

    I hate the fact that Free agency doesn’t start for nearly 2 more weeks.  I’m really interested to see who BB goes after.

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  • http://www.atomictickets.com/ Atomictickets

    I love Vincent Jackson and I believe he would be a great addition to the Patriots, my concern is that he will be to expensive for the Patriots taste especially with all the potentially available recievers out there.
    I love the fact that he has size , speed , has been averaging over 18 yards per catch and over 1000 yards per season and has worked well with the tight ends . When you can check out http://www.atomictickets.com  My question is knowing that the Patriots probably aren’t going to pay Wes Welker big money and bring in another reciever and pay top dollar,

    Realistically who do we think the Patriots will choose ??? 

    I’m thinking Brandon Lloyd,because he may be more friendly contract wise .

  • Robertfrost

    I’m not a vincent jackson fan at all. I think he’s overrated and he’s done some stupid, selfish things on the field and off (multiple arrests and he got a penalty that cost SD a playoff game. He was suspended for violating the Personal conduct policy.) He does well against revis, though so I guess that’s in his favor. I’d rather see Bowe, wayne, or lloyd come in. (Bowe’s had his issues too, but by all accounts he’s cleared these up; he’s also coming from a patriot-style offense.) Wayne could come cheap because he’s older and that would allow the pats to sign another player, too.

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