The Carolina Panthers are rebuilding once again, and that means they’re going to release expensive veterans like cornerback Donte Jackson in an attempt to build around quarterback Bryce Young. Originally selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft , the LSU product immediately earned a starting job and never relinquished the role. While he never made a Pro Bowl, he remained a solid starter through the life of his rookie deal.
The Panthers rewarded Donte Jackson with a three-year contract extension before the 2022 season. Unfortunately, he tore his Achilles midway through the campaign but fully recovered for 2023. Starting and appearing in 16 games, the veteran cornerback finished the season with the 63rd-best PFF grade out of 127 eligible players.
While Donte Jackson is still a solid cornerback, he’s not worth the $15.7 million the Panthers are supposed to pay him. By parting ways with him, Carolina will free up $5.9 million in cap space they desperately need to address the offense. According to Jeremy Fowler, the Panthers will either release or trade the cornerback before his March 16th roster bonus.
Carolina Panthers Will Release Or Trade Cornerback Donte Jackson
While a trade is technically on the table, the Panthers will probably have to release Donte Jackson. The LSU product is nothing special at this point in his career, and teams probably aren’t going to want to give up a draft pick for a somewhat expensive and unremarkable starter.
However, once the Panthers release him, Donte Jackson should draw at least some mild interest as a free agent. Today’s NFL is all about the passing game, and you can never have too many good cornerbacks. While you wouldn’t want to see Jackson lined up against Ja’Marr Chase in single coverage, he is a reliable second or third cornerback several teams would like to have.
Possible Team Fits
New England Patriots
Based on his rookie tape, the New England Patriots have a potential lockdown cornerback in Christian Gonzalez . While injuries limited him to just four games, the first-round pick appears to have the skills required to be a cornerstone player in this defense. Now, the Patriots need to add to their depth. The Patriots play more man coverage than just about anyone else, and that scheme only works if you have multiple starting-caliber cornerbacks. Once the Panthers release Donte Jackson, the veteran can seamlessly slide into this depth chart and help maintain one of the best defenses in football.
Los Angeles Chargers
Head coach Jim Harbaugh has a lot of work to do to fix the Los Angeles Chargers defense. Despite having multiple reliable rushers, this defense was one of the least efficient in the league against the pass, and it’s all because of their cornerbacks. Donte Jackson won’t be able to solve this all on his own, but the Panthers castaway will be a notable improvement.
Detroit Lions
Depending on how you classify Brian Branch, there is a strong case to be made that Donte Jackson would be the best cornerback on the Lions roster. Even if you want to count the hybrid defender as a cornerback, this team still needs reliable starters. Detroit’s defense was below average last year, and the fact they came this close to the Super Bowl despite the lackluster defense is a testament to Dan Campbell. Adding Jackson into the mix might be enough to push this team to the next level.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs will probably trade L’Jarius Sneed, which means they’ll have to find a new starting cornerback. Trent McDuffie is great in his own right and Joshua Williams showed some promise last year. However, if they want a safe player who can provide adequate coverage, then they should go after Donte Jackson once the Panthers release him.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints might trade Marshon Lattimore , which means they’ll need to find a cheap cornerback. Donte Jackson isn’t going to break the bank, and if the Saints play their cards right, they could get the Panthers cornerback with basically no cap hit in 2024.
Main Photo: Bob Donnan – USA Today Sports
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