Tag: Michael Barrett

How Mike Jackson trade impacts Seahawks’ CB room

How Mike Jackson trade impacts Seahawks’ CB room

The Seattle Seahawks turned a position of weakness into a strength on Thursday when they acquired rookie linebacker Michael Barrett from the Carolina Panthers. General manager John Schneider sent cornerback Mike Jackson the other way. Jackson’s departure from a deep corner room will offer more opportunity for young rookies like D.J. James and Nehemiah Pritchett.

Jackson, a 2019 fifth-rounder, lost his place this offseason in a deep defensive backfield. Jackson started opposite Riq Woolen during the 2022 season. He was a league-average cornerback, allowing a respectable 62% completion percentage on targets thrown his way, according to Pro Football Focus.

Jackson was replaced in the starting lineup prior to the 2023 season by Tre Brown. Brown ran with his opportunity, and more changes came to the defense this offseason when head coach Mike Macdonald replaced Pete Carroll. Macdonald brought his brilliant defensive system with him, and Schneider drafted James and Pritchett to better appease the scheme.

Jackson has settled in as a depth cornerback. The Seahawks understandably rather utilize those depth spots on developmental rookies with more long-term upside. They also undrafted free agent Carlton Johnson on the roster. Johnson has impressed in spurts and is attempting to make the 53 man roster. His chances improved following Jackson’s trade.

Pritchett has spent the preseason playing almost exclusively on the boundary. James has been slightly more versatile, splitting reps outside and inside. Jackson’s departure all but guarantees that both Pritchett and James will appear on Seattle’s initial 53 man roster next week.

The Seahawks needed better linebacker depth given that projected starter Jerome Baker has been sidelined with injury for multiple weeks. With Jon Rhattigan and Patrick O’Connell offering little-to-no long-term upside, the arrival of Barrett offers the Seahawks a potential future solution. Having Barrett and Tyrice Knight as rookies in the linebacker room will be beneficial.

Trading Jackson in exchange for better linebacker depth was a worthwhile move.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Analyzing how new Seahawks LB Michael Barrett fits the defense

How new Seahawks LB Michael Barrett fits the defense

The Seattle Seahawks executed a trade on Thursday afternoon as they continue preparing for roster cut downs, a process that will see general manager John Schneider finalize the initial 53 man roster next week. Seattle traded cornerback Mike Jackson to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for rookie linebacker Michael Barrett. Barrett will provide the defense with depth and developmental potential.

The Seahawks have been somewhat thin at off-ball linebacker throughout camp and the preseason. Projected starter Jerome Baker has been nursing a multi-week injury. The Seahawks also lost Jon Rhattigan to a brief setback before their second exhibition game, prompting them to sign rookie UDFA Easton Gibbs to help them get through the game.

Given the injuries at the position, it makes sense the Seahawks would sacrifice a cornerback, a position of depth on the defense. Mike Jackson became expendable after Schneider drafted two former Auburn cornerbacks, Nehemiah Pritchett and D.J. James, in April.

It’s surprising that the Panthers are willing to call quits on a rookie seventh-rounder, but they needed to part ways with something of value to improve their cornerback depth. Barrett was Carolina’s 240th overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. Perhaps the Seahawks would have signed him in undrafted free agency had he reached that market. Schneider’s final selection came 33 picks earlier, when he drafted Findlay offensive tackle Michael Jerrell.

There are obviously some intriguing connections between Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald and Barrett. Macdonald was Barrett’s defensive coordinator at Michigan in 2021. This past season, won a National Championship with the Wolverines while playing for Jim and Jay Harbaugh, the latter of which is now Seattle’s special teams coordinator.

Barrett will provide the Seahawks with necessary depth and developmental potential. He’ll likely spend the majority of his rookie season playing on special teams, where he has an existing relationship and comfort level with coach Jay Harbaugh. Acquiring Barrett was a shrewd move by Schneider.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Panthers trade one of their rookie draft picks before roster cutdowns

The Panthers swapped 7th-round rookie LB Michael Barrett for more immediate help at cornerback

Draft picks get traded all the time before they’re actually used to select a player. However, it’s pretty rare for a player who was drafted to be traded before his rookie year begins.

But that’s exactly what happened to linebacker Michael Barrett. The Carolina Panthers dealt Barrett, the No. 240 overall pick in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft, to the Seattle Seahawks. Carolina swapped Barrett, who played collegiately at Michigan, for veteran CB Michael Jackson.

The Panthers had a stark need for cornerback help, while Barrett was uncertain to make the initial 53-man roster. In Seattle, Barrett has a clearer path to making a dent on the field as a 24-year-old rookie.

Jerome Baker is back at Seahawks practice

Jerome Baker is back at Seahawks practice

It is good news all around for the Seattle Seahawks’ linebacker room. Earlier on Thursday, the Seahawks made a trade with the Carolina Panthers to acquire seventh round rookie linebacker Michael Barrett. Head coach Mike Macdonald certainly has knowledge of what Barrett can bring to the table, as he was his defensive coordinator at Michigan during the 2021 season.

Now, more good news, as veteran linebaker Jerome Baker is back at practice! Baker had missed close to two weeks dealing with a hamstring injury. While his goal was always to be ready by Week 1, his extended absense was starting to get concerning.

Fortunately, he is healthy enough to be back in the fold at practice.

The Seahawks linebacking corps is one that will feature the most new faces in the first year of the Mike Macdonald era. Jerome Baker and Michael Barrett are joined by Tyrel Dodson, Tyrice Knight and Blake Lynch.

Seattle is inching closer and closer to their Week 1 showdown against the Denver Broncos, who have already named rookie quarterback Bo Nix their starter. While the Broncos should be better this year, they are still a ways away from being a legitimate contender in the NFL. The Seahawks should be able to take care of business. However, they will need to be healthy in order to do so.

Having Baker back in the fold is a good sign this defense is trending in the right direction, health wise.

More Seahawks Wire stories

Seahawks trade CB Michael Jackson to Panthers for LB Michael Barrett

Should the Seahawks sign tight end C.J. Uzomah? 

Seahawks fall 16-15 to Titans in preseason Week 2

Panthers sign rookie LB on Thursday

The Panthers signed rookie LB Aaron Beasley on Thursday.

The Carolina Panthers kept themselves busy on Thursday.

As announced this afternoon, the team has signed rookie linebacker Aaron Beasley. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound defender joins the roster after completing a workout earlier in the day.

Beasley, a Franklin Ga. native, played all five of his collegiate seasons at the University of Tennessee. Over 56 games between 2019 and 2023, he recorded 238 total tackles (32.5 for a loss), 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one interception and seven passes defensed.

To make room for Beasley, the Panthers waived/injured offensive lineman Badara Traore. Traore, who first joined the team last December, played 25 snaps in this summer’s preseason opener against the New England Patriots—with 11 coming at left tackle and 14 at right tackle.

Carolina also pulled the trigger on a trade with the Seattle Seahawks just hours before the addition of Beasley—acquiring cornerback Michael Jackson in exchange for 2024 seventh-round pick and rookie linebacker Michael Barrett. Beasley could see action in Saturday’s preseason finale with the departure of Barrett.

[lawrence-related id=702155,702146,702142]

Biggest takeaways from Panthers’ acquisition of CB Michael Jackson

How many takeaways (and Michael Jackson references) can we get out of Thursday’s trade by the Panthers?

Carolina Panthers president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan has been workin’ day and night to get his roster together for the regular season.

He continued on Thursday by completing a little bit of a thriller with the Seattle Seahawks, trading rookie linebacker Michael Barrett in exchange for cornerback Michael Jackson.

But why did the Panthers already give up on a pretty young thing? And who exactly are they rocking with now?

Here are the biggest takeaways from today’s swap:

Beat It

Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

Remember the time Morgan and the Panthers selected Barrett in the seventh round of this year’s draft? Well, despite that, the 24-year-old still wasn’t a lock for the team’s initial 53-man roster.

Barrett wasn’t alone in the middle linebackers room, one already headed by long-time Panther Shaq Thompson and free-agent signee Josey Jewell. The depth behind those veterans has been filling out as well—with fellow rookie Trevin Wallace and special teams contributors Chandler Wooten and Claudin Cherelus impressing this summer.

Barrett clearly hadn’t done enough to jam himself into that equation. But at least the 2023 national champion gets to reunite with Mike Macdonald, his defensive coordinator at the University of Michigan in 2021.

Wanna Be Startin’ Someone

Steph Chambers/Getty Images

Carolina’s plan to start free-agent addition Dane Jackson at cornerback was quite clear. But that plan took a bad hit a little over a week ago, when the team learned they’d be without their projected No. 2 for “six-ish” weeks due to a “significant” hamstring injury.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, Stephon Gilmore recently let them know that he didn’t want them back and joined the Minnesota Vikings instead—leaving the defense with a handful of inexperienced options to replace Jackson.

This newer Jackson, however, has quite the experience as a featured corner—as he’s made 21 starts over 36 outings for Seattle between the last two seasons. 17 of those nods came in all 17 games of the 2022 campaign.

Smooth Criminals?

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Did the Panthers just pull of a heist for Jackson?

The Pro Football Focus numbers were rather solid for the 6-foot-1, 210-pounder in 2023. He earned an overall defensive grade of 77.0 (19th-best amongst cornerbacks with at least 450 defensive snaps), a coverage grade of 76.9 and a run defense grade of 71.5.

Carolina probably isn’t healing their world with Jackson, but he could end up being a steal—especially for a seventh-rounder who wasn’t going to be on the roster.

[lawrence-related id=702146,695382,702093]

Seahawks trade CB Michael Jackson to Panthers for LB Michael Barrett

Seahawks trade CB Michael Jackson to Panthers for LB Michael Barrett

The Seattle Seahawks have just traded one Michael for another. On Thursday morning, in a rare player-for-player straight across trade, Seattle sent cornerback Michael Jackson to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for rookie linebacker Michael Barrett.

Originally a seventh round selection by Carolina in the 2024 NFL draft, Barrett is now reunited with his former defensive coordinator at Michigan in head coach Mike Macdonald. As for Jackson, he is reunited with a former Seahawks coach in Dave Canales, who is now the top man for the Panthers.

Barrett spent six years with Michigan, and became a legitimate force for the middle of the Wolverines defense. In his last two years with Big Blue, he recorded 137 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, and two interceptions. He was a Team Captain for Michigan last year, as the Wolverines went 15-0 and defeated the Washington Huskies to be National Champions last year.

The Seahawks are in need of more linebacker depth. Veteran Jerome Baker has been out for roughly two weeks with a hamstring issue. Although Seattle is planning to have him ready to go by Week 1, the Seahawks clearly need someone available now. Barrett will join fellow rookie Tyrice Knight as the two young bucks trying to shore up the linebackign corps.

Meanwhile, we at Seahawks Wire want to acknowledge cornerback Michael Jackson’s contributions to the team. In the last two years, Jackson has played in all 35 possible games, including 21 regular season starts. He was a solid player in Seattle’s secondary, but given how crowded the position has become with quality depth, someone was always going to be the odd man out. The Seahawks were fortunate to be able to move on from Jackson in a way that netted them another player to fill a position of need.

More Seahawks Wire stories

Seahawks fall 16-15 to Titans in preseason Week 2

5 takeaways from Seattle’s loss to Tennessee

Studs and Duds from Seahawks’ Week 2 preseason loss

Panthers trade 2024 draft pick to Seahawks for CB Michael Jackson

The Panthers have acquired CB Michael Jackson from the Seahawks.

The Carolina Panthers went a bit off the wall on Thursday.

As announced this afternoon, the team has acquired cornerback Michael Jackson in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks. The somewhat surprising swap will send rookie linebacker and 2024 seventh-round pick Michael Barrett out west.

A Second-team All-ACC member out of the University of Miami (Fla.), Jackson cracked into the NFL as a fifth-round selection of the Dallas Cowboys in 2019. He’d never log a regular-season snap for the Cowboys, however, as he was signed off their practice squad by the Detroit Lions a few months into his rookie campaign.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder appeared in just one game for Detroit in 2019 and one for the New England Patriots in 2020. Jackson moved on to Seattle in 2021, where he’d eventually start in 21 of his 36 contests through the 2023 campaign.

Heading over in exchange for Jackson is Barrett, whom the Panthers grabbed with this year’s 240th overall pick.

[lawrence-related id=702146,702142,702093]

Panthers sign all 7 of their 2024 draft picks

The Panthers’ entire 2024 draft class is officially locked in.

All for one and one for all!

On Thursday evening, the Carolina Panthers announced they’ve signed all seven of their 2024 NFL draft picks. The deals come just in time, too—with the team beginning rookie minicamp tomorrow.

The biggest contract of the class belongs to University of South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette, the final pick of the first round. Carolina, whose first selection was originally in the 33rd overall spot, traded up to No. 32—securing Legette as well as the fifth-year option on his rookie deal.

Per Spotrac, the projected contracts for each pick are as follows:

Pick (Round) Years Total value Average annual value Signing bonus
WR Xavier Legette 32 (1) 4* $12,357,176 $3,089,294 $5,807,036
RB Jonathon Brooks 46 (2) 4  $8,417,082 $2,104,271 $2,941,512
LB Trevin Wallace 72 (3) 4 $5,959,836 $1,489,959 $1,154,424
TE Ja’Tavion Sanders 101 (4) 4 $4,894,236 $1,223,559 $874,236
CB Chau Smith-Wade 157 (5) 4 $4,343,984 $1,085,996 $323,984
DL Jaden Crumedy 200 (6) 4 $4,196,424 $1,049,106 $176,424
LB Michael Barrett 240 (7) 4 $4,114,300 $1,028,575 $94,300

With the exception of Brooks, who is still recovering from an ACL injury, each rookie is expected hit the field on Friday and Saturday. Brooks believes he’ll be healthy and ready to go by training camp.

[lawrence-related id=696983,696979,696964]

4 Panthers picks land in ESPN’s top 100 selections of 2024 draft

The Panthers made out this past weekend according to ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller.

Based off the cumulative grades, many experts seem to believe the Carolina Panthers might’ve reached a time or two (or four or five) during the 2024 NFL draft. But we can’t count ESPN’s Matt Miller in that bunch.

Miller ranked his 100 best selections of this past weekend, based on the value and fit of each choice. Of the Panthers’ seven-pick class, Miller has four landing into his list—beginning with running back Jonathon Brooks at No. 38:

The strategy of the Panthers’ draft was bringing talent around Bryce Young. Brooks is a patient, powerful and agile runner who will boost the team’s running game. But maybe most importantly is that he is the best pass-protecting back in the class. That will get him on the field as soon as he’s recovered from November ACL surgery.

Before the Panthers swiped Brooks with the 46th overall selection, they traded up into the final spot of the first round—where they found Miller’s 44th-best pick in wideout Xavier Legette:

All throughout the pre-draft process, I was told the Panthers loved Legette. And they did enough to trade up a spot into the first round to land him. Legette’s power and speed after the catch will make life much easier for second-year quarterback Bryce Young.

Joining Brooks and Legette are linebacker and seventh-round pick Michael Barrett (No. 46) and fourth-round tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders (No. 52).

[lawrence-related id=696070,696183,696678]