When the Carolina Panthers are through with the 2026 season, one of their biggest offseason decisions will be at cornerback, where the team will have to decide on what to do with Mike Jackson , who is entering the final year of his deal.
Initially signed to a cheap one-year deal in 2024, Jackson was re-signed on a two-year, $10.5 million contract in 2025 and went on to have a sensational season.
According to Pro Football Focus , Jackson's 80.9 coverage grade was third among all cornerbacks, and he gave up a completion rate of 55.6% and a passer rating of 72.9.
PFF also recently noted that Jackson is the 10th-highest graded player from 2025 who is entering a contract year in 2026.
On the surface, it would seem like paying Jackson to keep him around for the long haul is an easy decision, but that is not the case.
Carolina Panthers cornerback Mike Jackson (2) during Fanfest at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
As great as Jackson was last season , there is no world in which the Panthers should unload a lot of money on him, especially before this season plays out.
After all, there's no telling if last season was a fluke and if Jackson will return to the lackluster form we saw in 2024.
Even if Jackson plays 2026 out and goes on to have yet another strong showing, the Panthers still should not be backing up the Brinks truck for him.
That's because Jackson is set to turn 30 in January and we all know that's the age when many players begin to decline.
The Panthers simply can't risk giving Jackson a lucrative, long-term deal, only to have his play significantly decline at the beginning or during the middle of his new deal.
Now, none of this is to say the Panthers shouldn't re-sign Jackson at all. If Carolina can get the veteran cornerback on a short-term deal that provides a reasonable bump in pay, it's worth keeping him around because finding a replacement could become expensive giving the rising cost of cornerbacks.
Spotrac estimates a three-year, $40 million deal for Jackson in his next contract. That amounts to about $13 million annually, which isn't bad but is still a bit too rich for our blood.
We'd be more comfortable in the range of a two-year, $20 million deal that doesn't have much, if any, commitment in the second year. That would amount to nearly double the previous deal Jackson received from Carolina.
This article was originally published on www.si.com/nfl/panthers/onsi as Mike Jackson Will Get Paid; Should Panthers Foot the Expensive Bill? .
