NFL

Carolina Panthers GM Dan Morgan Opens NFL Year With Free-Agent Moves, Inks CB Mike Jackson To Shrewd Deal

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Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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Published13 Mar 2025

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nfl mike jackson resigns with panthers (1)

On the NFL’s opening day of the 2025 league year, the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday finalized new business and retained ties with a breakout defender.

Second-year general manager Dan Morgan officially agreed to high-profile free-agent terms with defensive linemen Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown III, running back Rico Dowdle, outside linebacker Patrick Jones II and safety Tre’von Moehrig.

The Panthers also signed new punter Sam Martin (Appalachian State) and retained seven of their potential free agents: quarterback Andy Dalton, offensive linemen Austin Corbett, Brady Christensen and Cade Mayes, cornerback Mike Jackson, long snapper JJ Jansen and tight end Tommy Tremble.

Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn also agreed to a 4-year. The $100 million extension makes the Pro Bowler the league’s highest-paid cornerback.

Jackson could prove to be one of Morgan’s shrewdest offseason moves.

Mike Jackson Finds Security In Multi-Year Deal  

Arriving just before cut-down day last August in what appeared to be a throw-away trade for 2024 seventh-round draft pick Michael Barrett, Jackson participated in 1,205 of 1,218 defensive snaps last season.   

Despite the unit yielding the league’s most points (534) and rushing yards (3,057), Jackson and Horn formed a bond on the outside. Under-rated for much of the season, the duo amassed a combined 30 passes defended, the most of any tandem last season.  

Jackson, who re-signed for 2 years, $14.5 million, turned in a career campaign, compiling 17 passes defended, two interceptions and 76 tackles.  

The NFL recently announced its top 25 performance-based contracts from 2024 and Jackson ranked third. The system is based on the performance of players who have high snap counts and low annual salaries.  

Jackson displayed his value and loyalty.  

“I kind of knew just at the end of the season,” Jackson said during Wednesday’s video conference. “Everything kind of worked out. I wanted to come back.   

“So it seemed right.”  

With both starting cornerbacks back in the fold, Jackson said he was eager to continue constructing a rapport with Horn.  

“Last year was just the foundation,” Jackson said. “Like now we get a whole offseason to be around each other every single day and really like push each other. So it’s kind of like you get to really take it to a whole other level. Last year, we played good, but it was like I was trying to learn the playbooks and all that. Now we’re past all that.”