It’s hardly shocking, but cornerback Jerry Jacobs is now an unrestricted free agent after the Lions apparently declined to offer him a contract.
Because it’s the thing to do these days, Detroit Lions cornerback Jerry Jacobs appeared to hint his departure from the team with a tweet on Tuesday.
“You must make a decision that you are going to move on from, it won’t happen automatically you will have to rise up and say I don’t care how hard this is I don’t care how disappointed I am, I’m not going to let this get the best of me I’m moving on with my life (three prayer emojis).”
Jacobs began the offseason as a restricted free agent, but it was easy to believe his time in Detroit would be done. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday morning that the Lions do not intend to tender Jacobs an offer sheet. He will now be an unrestricted free agent.
Jacobs was an excellent undrafted rookie acquisition for the Lions in 2021. He started nine games as a rookie before missing the rest of the season due to an ACL tear. After returning to action in October 2022, he was probably (or perhaps inarguably) the Lions’ top cornerback for the remainder of the season, particularly when he was playing heavy defensive snaps.
But Jacobs struggled all-around in 2023, only briefly buoyed by a two-interception game against the Packers in Week 4 and another interception against the Panthers the following week. He was benched in favor of Kindle Vildor later in the season, then he ended the season on IR. Jacobs pre-empted the report he was going on IR with a “Thank you, Detroit” post on Twitter.
Jerry Jacobs could be back with the Lions, but it seems doubtful.
Not offering Jacobs a contract does not guarantee he will not return to the Lions next season. A restricted free agent tender worth roughly $3 million is simply not reasonable for the franchise to commit to for him.
Jacobs started 29 of 40 games for the Lions over the last three seasons, recording four interceptions and 23 pass breakups. As a free agent, he might be of interest to a number of teams, even if merely as a depth option. However, his Cinderella story in Detroit has come to an end, barring an implausible move to re-sign him on a deal less expensive than the RFA tender.
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