Before William Jackson III dug into a large plate of Italian food Saturday afternoon, the NFL’s top-ranked free-agent cornerback reflected deeply and said grace.
Growing up in the Fifth Ward, Jackson built an extremely strong relationship with his community. That’s why the 2016 Cincinnati Bengals first-round draft pick and former University of Houston standout devotes a considerable amount of time and resources to his annual youth football camp with guidance from mentor Anzel Jennings; to supporting a flag football team, Cat Takeover; and to providing school supplies and backpacks for those in need.
“It means a lot to me,” Jackson said. “That’s where I grew up. I love giving back there. That’s all I basically knew. I’m not a flashy guy. I don’t have a big mouth. I do a lot of things behind the scenes because I don’t show it on social media. The environment we grew up in, it’s just rough.
“When I was young, I never had an NFL player to come back where you could shake their hand and have them teach you some things. I’m grateful and blessed that I can do that. I’m not a diva. People tend to forget. I’ve seen friends that let their lifestyle take them to another level, but I’m the same person. Nothing changes about me.”
The arc of Jackson’s football story keeps rising through a steady collection of milestones and change.
Once a relatively obscure Trinity Valley junior college player, Jackson earned a scholarship and proved he was an ultra valuable commodity for the Cougars as a tall, long-armed corner with rare speed, coverage skills and instincts at 6-foot, 196 pounds.
Five years ago, Jackson was drafted 24th overall after intercepting five passes as a senior and running the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds at the NFL scouting combine.
Five years later, Jackson is poised to achieve generational wealth. A blockbuster contract awaits him during a free-agency signing period that launches March 17.
Five years after eating lunch at the same Carraba’s The Original on Kirby Drive, Jackson was joined there again with his Houston-based agent, Kennard McGuire, and his son, Kennard Jr., while discussing his journey from the Fifth Ward and Wheatley High School to this pivotal moment.
For Jackson, 27, everything is coming full circle. And his low-key, humble personality and tight inner circle remain unchanged.
“Honorable men follow honorable men,” said McGuire, the representative for Andre Johnson, Duane Brown, Jadeveon Clowney, Teddy Bridgewater and several other top NFL players. “These are the same people that are with him today; nothing has changed. It’s the same circle and it comes full circle. That goes to the spirit.
“That embodies who he is and what he stands for. Oftentimes, kids only see (NFL players) on television. It’s another thing to see it and then physically touch him and shake his hand and for that person to say, ‘Hey, man, you can do this.’ He’s that beacon of light, that beacon of hope.”
Cornerback William Jackson III, center, is flanked by his Houston-based agent, Kennard McGuire, right, and McGuire’s son, Kennard Jr., on Saturday in Houston.
Houston Chronicle/Aaron WilsonFive seasons after being drafted, Jackson has shadowed elite wide receivers. He has overcome injuries, including playing through a torn labrum in his shoulder two seasons ago. And he has the significant experience of 48 career starts and 3,477 defensive snaps. He recorded a career-high 45 tackles in 14 games last season with one interception and 11 passes defensed.
Jackson has played for multiple defensive coordinators in Cincinnati, including Lou Anarumo, Teryl Austin and Paul Guenther, and two head coaches in Zac Taylor and Marvin Lewis.
“Everybody would want to be in the same scheme all four years, but that didn’t happen for me,” Jackson said. “I adapted, and hopefully it will pay off. I’ve played through injuries, just having a love for the game. … It means a lot to me.”
Since missing his entire rookie season with a torn pectoral, Jackson has piled up 150 career tackles, three interceptions, one touchdown, one sack and 41 passes defensed.
Jackson’s tackling grade last season represented a career best. He was the Bengals’ best coverage corner and was assigned to cover opponents’ most dangerous receivers.
“We are here, full circle, because of all of the hard work William put it before the exposure came,” McGuire said. “I don’t think many people realize what he went through early on, going to junior college and everything he had to do. If you’re not an SEC guy, if you’re not from the Big Ten, teams tend to grade you a little harder or look to find as many flaws as they can. Where he is today, where it’s going to be tomorrow, it’s a true testament to him.
“The things he’s done, that speaks to the wealth of his soul. I believe his impact in the Fifth Ward will be even greater because of where he is now. I’m not shocked, because I know who and what he is, and I know what he stands for.”
A great amount of wealth awaits Jackson on the open market despite the NFL’s currently having a salary-cap floor of $180 million per team because of the financial ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic. A year ago, the salary cap was $198.2 million.
That doesn’t mean some teams won’t make expensive acquisitions for high-value players at pivotal positions like cornerback.
Several teams have a generous amount of salary-cap space, including the Jacksonville Jaguars ($84 million), New York Jets ($77 million), New England Patriots ($66 million), Washington football team ($54 million), Indianapolis Colts ($44 million), Bengals ($40 million) and Denver Broncos ($30 million). Although the Raiders don’t have much cap space to compete for Jackson currently, Las Vegas is a popular rumored potential destination for him.
Cornerback salaries keep rising. The highest-paid corners in average per year are the Los Angeles Rams’ Jalen Ramsey ($21 million), the Baltimore Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey ($19.5 million), the Buffalo Bills’ Tre’Davious White ($17.3 million), the Philadelphia Eagles’ Darius Slay ($16.7 million), the Miami Dolphins’ Byron Jones ($16.5 million), the Dolphins’ and former Wheatley teammate Xavien Howard ($15.1 million), the New York Giants’ James Bradberry ($14.5 million) and the Arizona Cardinals’ Patrick Peterson, the Chicago Bears’ Kyle Fuller, the Ravens’ Marcus Peters and the Bengals’ Trae Waynes at $14 million apiece.
From the 2016 draft class, which includes the Jaguars picking Ramsey fifth overall and later trading him to Los Angeles, the New York Giants picking Eli Apple 10th overall, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selecting current Texans corner Vernon Hargreaves 11th overall, and the Pittsburgh Steelers drafting Artie Burns 25th overall, Jackson is the only first-round cornerback still with his original team.
“Free agency reaches a unique period,” McGuire said. “I’ve been doing this almost 30 years, and this is the first time we’ve been in a situation where we’re dealing with a pandemic and the effects of a pandemic, so I believe there are going to be some challenges. But I believe in the person, and I believe in the work that he’s put in. I could be biased, but I believe he’s the best corner out there, and I don’t waver in that opinion and that thought. The phone will ring.”
When it does and the right contract is offered and Jackson chooses his NFL destination, he’s already set his plan to celebrate. He’ll simply go horseback riding, a passion encouraged during his childhood while he went on trail rides with his grandmother, Judy Johnson.
“People still can’t believe that about me and riding horses, based on where I grew up,” said Jackson, who keeps a photograph of himself with Andre Johnson from when he was growing up in Houston and Johnson was an All-Pro wide receiver for the hometown Texans. “It’s just something I’ve always loved doing, and it kept me out of trouble. So I can’t leave here.
“I’ll be grateful where it is, whatever it is, for me. I’m just ready to get this stuff out of the way and go right back to riding horses.”
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