Panthers Trade for Michael Jackson; Seahawks Get Michael Barrett Before Roster Cuts

The Carolina Panthers acquired cornerback Michael Jackson in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday.

As part of the deal, the Seahawks received rookie linebacker Michael Barrett. He spent his 2023 season at Michigan before he was selected with a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

With Panthers starting cornerback Dane Jackson expected to miss up to six weeks due to a hamstring injury, the acquisition of the 27-year-old gives Carolina some more secondary depth before final roster cuts are due on Tuesday.

Jackson was originally selected by the Dallas Cowboys as a fifth-round choice in the 2019 draft. While he ultimately didn't see any regular-season action in Dallas, he's appeared in 38 games with the Detroit Lions and New England Patriots as well as the Seahawks.

He started all 17 games for Seattle in 2022, recording 75 tackles and 12 passes defensed to go along with an interception. Although Jackson fell behind Devon Witherspoon and Tre Brown on the Seahawks' 2023 depth chart, he remained effective in a smaller role.

Jackson received an impressive 77.0 grade from Pro Football Focus in 2023, allowing 22 receptions on 32 targets. He has some history with Panthers head coach Dave Canales, who previously served as Seattle's quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator in 2021 and 2022.

Barrett will also be reunited with a familiar face, as Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald was Michigan's defensive coordinator in 2021. Veteran linebacker Jerome Baker has missed roughly two weeks due to a hamstring issue.

Although Baker is expected to return before Seattle's season opener against the Denver Broncos, Barrett could provide some depth in case he's unable to come back in time.