We’re down to single digits in our countdown towards the Carolina Panthers season opener. It’s now under a week away. With just days left, our countdown piece is focused on the player wearing the number 2 jersey, cornerback Mike Jackson.
Jackson, a University of Miami graduate, was the 158th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Selected by the Dallas Cowboys, he was waived during roster cuts that same season. He was signed off their practice squad by the Detroit Lions before spending time with the New
England Patriots (2020) and the Seattle Seahawks (2021-2023). He joined the Carolina Panthers in 2024 as part of a trade with the Seahawks that sent 2024 seventh round draft pick Michael Barrett to the Pacific Northwest.
He immediately assumed the No. 2 corner duties due to projected starter, Dane Jackson, suffering a hamstring injury and he never looked back. Jackson was one of the few defensive highlights of 2024, holding up well in both coverage and run support opposite Jaycee Horn. The Panthers rewarded his play with a two-year, $10.5M contract extension this offseason.
Jackson is quietly the key to the performance of the Panthers secondary this season. They are going to face a lot of teams with talented and explosive wide receivers. Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars is going to be one such test. If Jackson can step up and help lock down Brian Thomas, Jr., Dyami Brown, and Travis Hunter then that would go a long way towards giving Carolina a fighting chance in Sunday’s season opener. If his play falls off a cliff compared to last season then the team will be in deep trouble.
What do you expect to see from Jackson in 2025?
