The Carolina Panthers are apparently prepared to move on from cornerback Donte Jackson per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
#Panthers are expected to trade or release veteran corner Donte Jackson, per sources.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 4, 2024
Jackson has a $4M roster bonus due March 16, which should spur action.
A release would save $5.9M on the cap. pic.twitter.com/s1IFJLZF3d
Jackson has spent his entire six year career with the Panthers and had started every game he was healthy for since 2020. Jackson had signed a three year $35.18 million contract with the team back in 2022. His cap number jumped up to $15.7M this year and that is probably part of the reason that the team would be looking to move on. If cut or traded Jackson will count for $9.78 million in dead money, opening up about $5.9 million in cap room for the Panthers.
If Jackson were traded the acquiring team would take on his $10.62 million salary. The Panthers have until the second day of the league year to trade Jackson unless they want to pay $4 million of his salary which is earned on the third day of the league year. They will probably explore trades over the next week and then release him if no trade looks to be possible. The Panthers currently have $35 million in cap room but that will take a massive hit if they franchise pass rusher Brian Burns which probably adds more to the reason for moving on from Jackson.