Kareem Jackson said last month that he would "love" to re-sign with the Houston Texans. On Saturday, the promising young cornerback got his wish.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Jackson and the team have agreed to terms on a four-year, $34 million contract with $20 million in guarantees, per a source involved in the deal.
The signing comes hours after the Texans agreed to terms on a five-year pact with right tackle Derek Newton.
Ranking at No. 23 on our list of the NFL's top 101 NFL free agents, Jackson emerged last season as a valuable piece of Houston's secondary. He played both outside and in the slot, and even saw snaps at safety. Statistically, he was far better manning the outside, where he allowed an NFL passer rating of 10.2 compared with 117.5 in the slot. Still, only J.J. Watt graded higher among Texans defenders in 2014, per Pro Football Focus.
Had he gone to market, Jackson was bound to make plenty of cash from another corner-needy team. The Jets were among the clubs whispered about as a potential suitor. Instead, the former first-round pick returns to the fold as a valuable chess piece for coordinator Romeo Crennel.
In a league where strong cornerback play is more important than ever before, locking down Jackson was a safe, no-brainer move for coach Bill O'Brien and the Texans.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast breaks down the Brandon Marshall trade and plays another game of "Go Get My Lunch." Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.
