Seattle Seahawks receive offseason boost as veteran defensive player agrees to do them a favor

The Seattle Seahawks received a boost to their cap space with the news on Sunday that starting cornerback Mike Jackson had agreed to a restructured contract. 

Per ESPN's Brady Henderson, Jackson has agreed to a deal with the Seahawks that pays him the league-minimum base salary of $1.055 million and a $167,500 signing bonus.

As a restricted free agent, Jackson had signed a right of first refusal tender worth $3.116 million. The reworked deal drops his cap number to $1.22 million, creating around $1.89 million in cap space for Seattle.

A fifth-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2019, Jackson has been with the Seahawks since 2021 and started four games last season, seeing his role reduced having started all 17 in 2022.

Jackson still played significant snaps, starting as the outside corner on nickel downs when Devon Witherspoon kicked inside to the slot.

He right now looks to be the favorite to play that role in 2024, though he has plenty of competition. The Seahawks also have Tre Brown and Artie Burns at corner behind Witherspoon and Riq Woolen and drafted two players at the position on day three.

Seattle picked Nehemiah Pritchett in the fifth round and Auburn teammate D.J. James in the sixth round.

An unrestricted free agent next offseason, the Seahawks' activity in the draft doesn't point to them keeping Jackson long term. By making the move of reworking his contract, Jackson gets some upfront guaranteed money while giving the Seahawks more financial flexibility for 2024 as they look to prove they are closer to contending in new head coach Mike MacDonald's first season than many believe.