Panthers fill cornerback void with Michael Jackson trade

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Carolina Panthers shored up depth in the secondary by trading linebacker Michael Barrett to Seattle in exchange for cornerback Michael Jackson.

Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales liked what the undersized seventh-round draft pick brought to the team.  

But priorities require hard decisions.

“Michael Barrett has done everything we’ve asked of him,” Canales said following Wednesday’s practice.

At that time, Barrett had just wrapped up a morning practice in which he again attempted to force his way up the depth chart of a crowded linebacker room. Canales spoke earlier of the importance of Saturday’s preseason finale at Buffalo to fringe players trying to lock down a spot on the 53-man roster.

Barrett was one of them.

“This is a really good football player, that’s why he’s here,” Canales said.

So good that general manager Dan Morgan found a way to leverage Barrett’s potential and fill a need by trading him to the Seattle Seahawks Thursday for veteran cornerback Michael Jackson.

The move was necessitated when injuries hit the secondary and free agent cornerback Stephon Gilmore spurned the Panthers’ overtures to sign with the Minnesota Vikings. The Panthers needed an experienced defender to play opposite Jaycee Hall.

Dane Jackson held down the position through the offseason program and the early stages of training camp, until suffering a “significant” hamstring injury that will keep him sidelined for “six-ish” weeks, Canales said.

Barrett, who helped Michigan win the 2023 college national title, appeared to be a long shot to earn a roster spot over veteran starters Shaq Thompson and Josey Jewell and top rookie prospect Trevin Wallace. Special teams contributors Claudin Cherelus and Chandler Wooten also have stood out.

Two days before the trade, Barrett said he appreciated the way the veterans embraced him and aided his transition into the professional ranks.

“It’s been great,” he said. “Fittin’ in ... learning from all the older vets in the room, Shaq and Josey and those guys. Just being great leaders. Great mentors, showing us the ropes.”

During the 15-12 loss to the New York Jets at Bank of America Stadium last week, Barrett earned an 81.6 grade, the highest mark by a Panthers defender, according to Pro Football Focus.
“Just being me,” Barrett said, adding, that despite being 6-foot, 239 pounds, he felt like an NFL player.

“Most definitely ... most definitely. All that (negative) talk, you’re always going to hear it. All I can do is control what I can control, control every rep I get. Go out there and prove all those doubters wrong.”

Scouting reports, dating back to his days at Lowndes (Ga.) High as a quarterback/linebacker noted Barrett’s size and perceived inability to get off blocks of bigger, more physical opponents.

“Things I’ve heard,” he said. “Those are the things I’m working on the daily.

“When you make plays, that’s what you’re in business for.”

The Panthers’ short-term business plan included bolstering the cornerback room. Jackson, who is in his sixth season, also played for the Detroit Lions and New England Patriots, collecting 112 tackles, 19 passes defended and one interception.

The Panthers may not be done adding to the cornerback room. Tuesday looms as cutdown day as most teams will cut 37 players to finalize a 53-man roster. After finishing a league-worst 2-15 last season, Morgan will get the first choice of newly available talent.

Morgan made an additional move by replacing Barrett with undrafted rookie linebacker Aaron Beasley and waiving offensive tackle Badara Traore with an injury designation. Beasley spent five years at Tennessee and collected 145 tackles over his final two seasons.

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