One of the longest-tenured Carolina Panthers may not be tenured by the Carolina Panthers much longer.
According to ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler, the team is expected to part ways with cornerback Donte Jackson. Fowler notes that the Panthers will likely look to trade or release the 28-year-old defender in the coming days.
Such a move would logically go down before March 16, when Jackson would earn a $4 million roster bonus. A release of the veteran corner would save Carolina $5.9 million of cap space this offseason.
A standout speedster at Louisiana State University, Jackson was selected by the organization in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft. Since then, he’s made 76 starts over 80 games—recording 303 combined tackles, 14 interceptions and three forced fumbles.
Jackson played in 16 of 17 games this past season after sustaining a torn Achilles tendon in 2022. He was named the team’s Ed Block Courage Award winner for his valiant recovery and comeback.
2024 would mark the final campaign of the three-year, $35.1 million deal Jackson signed with the Panthers two springs ago.
