Tag: Gabe Jackson

Panthers sign G Gabe Jackson to practice squad

With the injuries piling up along their offensive line, the Panthers have signed G Gabe Jackson to their practice squad.

In need of some help along their offensive line, the Carolina Panthers just added one of the biggest hog mollies they could find.

The team announced this afternoon that they have signed guard Gabe Jackson to their practice squad. The 6-foot-3, 335-pounder, as already reported by Bleacher Report NFL insider Jordan Schultz, had been slated for a visit today.

Jackson, a Mississippi State University product, was taken in the third round of the 2014 NFL draft by the then Oakland Raiders. The 81st overall pick went on to play seven seasons with the organization, recording 99 starts over 100 games.

He was then traded to the Seattle Seahawks following the 2020 campaign in exchange for a fifth-round pick. Jackson proceeded to start in each of his 31 games for Seattle during the 2021 and 2022 season before being released on March 10, 2023.

Not only have the Panthers lost both of their starting guards in Austin Corbett and Brady Christensen for the season, but they also saw youngsters Chandler Zavala and Cade Mays exit with injuries in this past Sunday’s loss to the Tennessee Titans.

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Gabe Jackson reportedly visiting with Panthers on Wednesday

According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, G Gabe Jackson will visit with the Panthers on Wednesday.

The machine, albeit a leaky one, is moving on without former head coach Frank Reich.

According to Bleacher Report NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Carolina Panthers will have guard Gabe Jackson in for a visit on Wednesday. The 32-year-old offensive lineman last played as a member of the Seattle Seahawks during the 2022 campaign.

Jackson, a Mississippi State University product, was selected in the third round of the 2014 NFL draft by the then Oakland Raiders. He went on to spend seven seasons with the organization, making 99 starts over 100 games through 2020.

A trade in the spring of 2021 would then send Jackson to the Seattle Seahawks. He proceeded to start in each of his 31 games for Seattle between 2021 and 2022 before being released on March 10 of this year.

Carolina has been dealing with numerous injuries at the guard position. In addition to losing starters Austin Corbett and Brady Christensen for the rest of the season, the Panthers saw rookie Chandler Zavala leave Nissan Stadium this past Sunday on crutches.

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The NFL’s best available free agents as training camps begin

As training camps begin, and the preseason is nearly upon us, here are the best free agent players left in the NFL.

Rookies and veterans are reporting to training camps around the NFL, which means that our long national nightmare of life without professional football is nearly over. Yay, but for a lot of veterans in the league, there’s still an element of waiting by the phone to hear from their agents regarding interests from NFL teams.

Not every veteran — even veterans who are still playing at a high level — have homes when training camps start. A lot of the players listed below will find those homes before preseason games begin in early August, and some will have to wait longer. (Yes, there are veterans who would prefer to eschew training camp entirely, and that has something to do with it).

So, as we head into the pre-preseason, here are the best players who, at this point, are still looking for their new NFL destinations.

PFF implores Colts to sign veteran guard

PFF believes the Colts should look to add veteran G Gabe Jackson.

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The Indianapolis Colts are less than a month away from the start of training camp, and there appears to be little competition for the starting right guard position.

Throughout the offseason training program, the starting role has belonged to Will Fries, a seventh-round pick during the 2021 NFL draft. He finished the 2022 season starting the final eight games and while he showed some promise, we’ve already seen what can happen when an unproven player isn’t given enough competition for the starting role.

So as Pro Football Focus suggested one move each team should make before training camp, they implored the Colts to add a veteran guard.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: SIGN OG GABE JACKSON

Jackson is coming off the two lowest-graded seasons of his career but was a model of consistency through his first seven NFL campaigns in Las Vegas. A 69.9 pass-blocking grade in 2020 was the worst of his run. Perhaps he can play some better football in a reserve capacity as opposed to preparing each week to be a starter.

Indianapolis started Will Fries down the stretch in 2022, and he earned a 44.4 pass-blocking grade with 15 quarterback hurries allowed — among the most at the position over the span. It will never be a bad idea to add some offensive line depth for new franchise quarterback Anthony Richardson.

The Colts typically stick to their guns when it comes to the valuation of the free-agent market. There’s a chance they make a move on the offensive line, which is something general manager Chris Ballard hinted toward following the 2023 NFL draft.

However, they haven’t done so yet as July officially arrived Saturday. It’s important for young players to get reps so they can continue to grow their game, but the lack of competition at right guard is alarming.

The Colts may believe Fries is the answer to their starting right guard question, and there’s a chance he exceeds expectations.

But adding competition in the form of a viable veteran like Jackson would help the team’s depth in a significant way.

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10 available free agents who can still help the Colts

These free agents could still help the Colts in 2023.

The Indianapolis Colts just kicked off OTAs and are now in preparation mode in the lead-up to the opening game.

During this time the coaching staff won’t only be getting their players ready for the season but the front office is still evaluating the roster and deciding on if they want to bring on a veteran to add some depth and competition.

Per OverTheCap, the Colts are sitting with $16.2 million in effective cap space so they have enough room to make some additions. But Chris Ballard will also have to factor in the potential extensions for running back Jonathan Taylor, wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., and possibly other players that entering their final year of the contract.

There are a good number of notable veteran free agents available on the market but for Indianapolis, they have to consider where they are at as a state of a franchise.

With the team entering a rebuilding year and the development of Anthony Richardson, this season might not make much sense for them to spend money as if they are going after a Super Bowl. The focus should be on getting the younger players on the roster to get the snaps for their development for 2024 and beyond.

That doesn’t mean Ballard shouldn’t go sign some veterans to compete with this roster, there are some spots on the depth chart I believe could use some depth so here are some players that could help out the Colts this season:

NFL Free Agency: These 14 former Seahawks are still available

Here are 14 players who were on the Seahawks roster last year and are still as yet unsigned.

The Seattle Seahawks have for the most part filled out their 90-man roster for the summer. However, there’s always churning going on at the bottom end of the roster, as we saw yesterday when cornerback Artie Burns re-signed a one-year deal and rookie nose tackle Robert Cooper was waived to make room for him. Burns takes one name off the market, but there are still several former Seattle players who remain free agents.

Here are 14 players who were on the Seahawks roster last year and are still as yet unsigned.

3 former Seahawks named among best remaining free agents

Three former Seahawks players made the cut.

With the 2023 NFL draft now in the rearview mirror, teams only have one way to improve their rosters before the start of the season: hitting up free agency. Seattle is well represented on that market right now. Doug Farrar at Touchdown Wire has published a list of the top available free agents and three former Seahawks players made the cut.

Rams OL Steve Avila compared to 9-year starter at guard

Steve Avila was viewed as one of the top linemen in the draft this year and drew a comparison to a 9-year starter in the NFL

The Rams feel they got a good one with their first pick in the draft this year, selecting TCU offensive lineman Steve Avila at No. 36 overall. Avila not only brings impressive strength and power to the O-line, but he’s also versatile enough to play any of the three interior spots up front.

Leading up to the draft, Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar compared the top players at each position to current or former NFL players. For Avila, he sees similarities to Gabe Jackson, a nine-year starter with the Raiders and Seahawks.

Jackson is currently a free agent, but he’s started at least 11 games in each of the last nine seasons and has been a powerful blocker throughout his career.

NFL Comparison: Gabe Jackson. Selected in the third round of the 2014 draft by the Raiders, Jackson parlayed a massive (6-foot-3, 335-pound) frame into his status as a great power blocker with surprising movement skills. Avila may well have the same kind of bright future.

Though Avila was selected a round earlier than Jackson, the Rams would probably be happy if Avila turned out to be as successful as the former Raiders and Seahawks guard. Though he’s never made the Pro Bowl, he never had an overall grade below 67.3 in his first five seasons, according to PFF. And for the first time in his career, his pass blocking grade dipped below 69.9 in 2021.

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4 Saints free agency targets who won’t impact 2024 comp picks

The Saints could be big players in the next wave of free agency with about $16 million to spend. Here are four targets who won’t count against their 2024 comp picks:

The New Orleans Saints aren’t finished in free agency just yet. We’re still waiting on contract numbers and salary cap hits for recently-signed players like defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, punter Blake Gillikin, and offensive tackle Storm Norton, but the Saints should have approximately $16 million to work with by now — making them big players in the next wave of free agency. There is room for more upgrades after signing defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd and running back Jamaal Williams.

But they don’t want to be too active and jeopardize the multiple 2024 compensatory draft picks they’re projected to receive for losing so many free agents of their own. Fortunately, there’s a loophole: targeting players who were let go by their previous teams, who do not count against 2024 comp picks. Here’s a quick look at four veteran options who could help the Saints get where they want to go:

Seahawks 2023 free agency tracker: Latest extensions, exits, cuts and new signings

Here are all of the latest moves that Seattle has made related to free agency this year.

The NFL’s 2023 free agency period has begun. Teams have between now and Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. eastern time when the new league year begins to negotiate with players who are about to become free agents. The Seahawks have already made some moves of course, including re-signing their starting quarterback and their kicker.

Here are all of the latest moves that Seattle has made related to free agency this year.