Longtime starting OL to visit Panthers

Gabe Jackson spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons in Seattle, going to the Pacific Northwest after the Raiders shook up a veteran-laden offensive line. The Seahawks opted to cut costs at guard this offseason, however, releasing Jackson in March.

No team picked up the nine-year veteran, and the former Raiders mainstay has not been closely connected to a team this year. But the guard-desperate Panthers will kick the tires on the longtime starter, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz tweets. Jackson will visit with the again-retooling team Wednesday.

After enjoying good health up front last season, Carolina was unable to play its starting guards together at any point during Frank Reich‘s historically short tenure as head coach. Left guard Brady Christensen suffered a biceps injury in Week 1 that knocked him out for the season. Rehabbing a torn ACL sustained in Week 18 of last season, Austin Corbett made it back to come off the reserve/PUP list in October. But an MCL injury will sideline Carolina’s right guard starter for the rest of the year.

Still attempting to carry out the Bryce Young development mission, the Panthers have seen their guard play pose a problem. Given Young’s 5-foot-10 stature, interior offensive line play is quite important. Carolina may not view Jackson as a multiyear piece, but after pursuing wideouts at the trade deadline to assist their rookie QB, the team likely wants to gauge Jackson’s form to see if he can help Young close out a difficult rookie season.

Jackson, 32, has made 130 career starts. The former Raiders third-round pick joined Khalil Mack and Derek Carr in a strong 2014 draft class and joined Carr in signing an extension in 2017. The Raiders used Jackson as a starter throughout his eight-year Oakland/Las Vegas run but traded him to the Seahawks for a fifth-round pick in 2021. Jackson started 31 games in Seattle, doing so after signing a three-year, $22.58M extension.

Pro Football Focus viewed Jackson as slipping from 2021 to ’22, giving him a below-average grade last season. With the Panthers down to backups at both guard spots, however, they may view Jackson as a necessary piece to finish out Young’s first year.