- Brady Henderson.
- Jeremy Fowler.
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ESPNcontributor
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- ESPN Editor
- Previously, he was a college football reporter for CBSSports.com.
- graduated from the University of Florida
SEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks have given veteran guard Gabe Jackson a new three-year contract and $22.575 million after acquiring him in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this month, sources told ESPN Tuesday.
Seattle essentially tore up the remaining two years of Jackson’s contract with the Raiders, which the Seahawks inherited when they signed him with the 17th pick. March acquired against a fifth-round pick. He would previously receive a base salary of $9.35 million and $250,000 in bonuses for each of the next two seasons before playing freely in 2023.
Jackson will now earn $10.075 million this year - a $9 million signing bonus and a $1.075 million base salary - plus $6 million in 2022 and $6.5 million in 2023. He will be free in 2024.
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Jackson’s new contract significantly reduces the salary, which would have been $9.6 million in 2021, something the Seahawks needed to do given their cap constraints. OverTheCap.com estimates that the team is more than $1 million over the spending limit, although that calculation does not take into account any savings from Jackson’s new contract or the cost of some of his other acquisitions, details of which have yet to be released.
In a video conference with Seattle reporters Tuesday, Jackson said in his first public comments since the deal was finalized that his contract had been extended, but gave no details. Jackson, 29, who spent his first seven seasons with the Raiders, compared his new start in Seattle to feeling like he was drafted.
It’s like I’m new again, he said. You can go out, meet new people, and start over.
As for his departure from the Raiders, Jackson said the contract dispute was part of it, but declined to go into detail.
The Seahawks’ trade in Jackson was extra important because quarterback Russell Wilson publicly lobbied for the team to improve its pass protection. Jackson ranks 18th in ESPN’s pass blocking rankings as a defensive lineman over the past two seasons. Pro Football Focus didn’t give him a single sack last season.
He was excited, Jackson said, when asked about the exchange after his conversation with Wilson. I don’t know if he was as excited as I was, but we are looking forward to working together.
Jackson is the Seahawks’ only acquisition this season. Four of last season’s starters join the offense: Duane Brown, center Ethan Pocic, right guard Damien Lewis and right wing Brandon Shell. Still, the Seahawks might continue to look for someone for the starting center job after recalling Posick to a one-year contract with $3 million guaranteed. It’s also unclear at what position Jackson will play at guard. He played on the left wing in his first two seasons, moved to the right wing in 2016 and has felt at home there ever since.
He said that he and the team have not yet discussed in detail what position he will play, but that he will do what the team asks of him.
I know it’s a great group of offensive linemen, he said. I’ve seen them play and I look forward to playing with them, because I know we can be great.
Jackson was asked if Wilson’s comments about his pass-rushing abilities put Seattle’s offensive line under scrutiny.
I wouldn’t say that, he said. As an offensive lineman or player in general, I feel like you are always under the microscope. But the best thing you can do is be yourself and work hard, accept the coaching and do your best. And if you do well, train well and so on, it pays off on Sunday. Just do the little things.
