Carolina Panthers trade for cornerback Michael Jackson from Seattle Seahawks

The Carolina Panthers have a new cornerback as they traded for Michael Jackson from the Seattle Seahawks. In return, the Seahawks acquired linebacker Michael Barrett from the Panthers.

Carolina was looking for depth at the cornerback position as starter Dane Jackson is dealing with an injury that could keep him out of the start of the regular season. The Panthers also lost Lamar Jackson to a knee injury.

Michael Jackson, 27, started his career with the Dallas Cowboys. He was drafted by the team in the fifth round back in 2019 and started the season on the practice squad. Later in the season, Jackson was signed by the Detroit Lions and appeared in one game. Before the 2020 season, Jackson signed with the New England Patriots and played in one game.

After being waived by the Patriots before the 2021 season kicked off, Jackson signed with the Seahawks. In his first season with the team, Jackson played in two games and had two passes defended. In 2022, Jackson started all 17 games and recorded 75 tackles, one interception, and 12 passes defended. Last year, the Miami Hurricanes alum played in all 17 games with four starts and notched 34 tackles and five passes defended.

Pete Carroll gave high praise to Michael Jackson

“Mike challenged whenever he could, all of the techniques, all of the stuff we asked him to do,” then Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said during training camp last year, per Sports Illustrated. “Playing on both sides, he played some inside stuff too. But he just—his confidence is really at an all-time high for him. And I know that when he saw Tariq go down, it was important for him to step up so that we felt secure, we’d be OK, we could carry on. He just rose to this camp, and really, through all the weeks he’s been great. He’s ready to play.”

Barrett was selected by the Panthers in the seventh round of this year’s draft. He played in the team’s first two presason games and tallied three tackles on defense and one on special teams, per the Seahawks’ official website. Barrett played college football at Michigan where he was a two-time selection to the All-Big Ten Third Team. He reunites with Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald who was Michigan’s defensive coordinator in 2021.