Towards the end of the season, there was talk that Dexter Jackson could be a roster causality. While viewed as an on-field leader and decent blitzer, Jackson has struggled against the pass his entire Cincinnati career. Figuring the team is hitting their stride on their youth movement in the secondary, the Bengals would have likely used Jackson as a mentor to apprentice the younger safeties anyway. That was based on the assumption that the team could re-sign Madieu Williams.
With reports that negotiations between the Bengals and Williams are going nowhere, it seems likely Marvin Lewis would keep Jackson on board for 2008 with a cap friendly $1.7 million. Jackson is scheduled to make $1.3 million for 2008 and $1.5 million in 2009.