Donte Jackson very excited for 2023 after 'aggressive' offseason by Panthers

It’s been an eventful 2023 offseason for the Carolina Panthers, to say the least. The team brought in a new head coach in Frank Reich, traded up to No. 1 to draft quarterback Bryce Young and brought in some key players through free agency.

With those moves, the Panthers have made it clear that their goal is to compete in 2023. Carolina has missed the playoffs in each of the five seasons, but there is no shortage of excitement about the direction the team is heading.

That includes cornerback Donte Jackson, who has been a starter with the Panthers since 2018.

“I’m very excited,” Jackson said in a recent interview. “Everybody has the same goal in mind in the building and in the city. We all want to win right now. Just seeing some of the aggressive moves we’ve been making out of the offseason, it was great. All the guys are talking in the group message and stuff like that just excited and ready to get back in the building.”

Carolina added veteran receivers Adam Thielen and DJ Chark to the fold to give Young some reliable weapons in his first season. They also brought in running back Miles Sanders, fresh off the first 1,000-yard season of his career with the Eagles.

Then there are a number of talented defensive players making their return. That includes edge rusher Brian Burns, who has made Pro Bowls in back-to-back seasons, and leading tackler Shaq Thompson. The Panthers also get a healthy Jackson back after he missed the final seven games of last season with a torn Achilles.

That has led to a lot for the confidence of the team, which ended last season with a 5-3 record over its final eight games. There is belief that, with the offseason additions and a healthy roster, the Panthers can build on that and reach the next level.

“To touch on the question you asked earlier, ‘why is the excitement so much?’ it’s because we actually see everybody wanting to win and see everybody buying in,” Jackson said. “I think that’s cause for guys to want to be around each other, to want to do things as a team and to want to hang out and stuff like that. We all see the direction it’s going early.”

There’s still a question of how everything will fit together, especially with a rookie quarterback leading the way. But after wrapping up OTAs and minicamp, the buzz surrounding the Panthers is strong.

Carolina now has a little more than a month off before beginning training camp on July 26. After that, they’ll get a chance to show what their new-look roster can do when they open the season on Sept. 10 against the Atlanta Falcons.