The Raiders hope to secure long-term agreements with quarterback Derek Carr and edge rusher Khalil Mack, and a third member of the club’s 2014 draft class is also up for a new deal. Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie mentioned right guard Gabe Jackson‘s name in regards to possible extension, tweets Scott Bair of CSNCalifornia.com, who adds the Raiders “love” Jackson.
[RELATED: NFL Approves Raiders’ Move To Vegas]
Without extensions in place, the Raiders can still hold onto Carr and Mack for several more seasons via the fifth-year option (Mack in 2018) and the franchise tag (Carr in 2018 and Mack in 2019). No such fifth-year option exists for Jackson given he was a third-round pick, and the franchise tender isn’t usually palatable for an interior lineman. As such, a long-term deal with Jackson would not only allow Oakland to keep its excellent offensive line in place, but enable the club to focus on deals for Carr and Mack.
Jackson, 25, has been a full-time starter since entering the league of out Mississippi State, and has appeared in 45 games during his three-year stint in Oakland. Last season, Jackson graded as the league’s No. 20 offensive guard among 72 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. The Raiders’ offensive line, which also includes stars Kelechi Osemele, Rodney Hudson, and Donald Penn, ranked first in pass protection in 2016, allowing an adjusted sack rate of just 3.4%, according to Football Outsiders.
The Raiders have ample cap space in which to fit long-term pacts for Carr, Mack, and Jackson, as the the team has $33MM in 2017 space and $76MM in 2018 (both amounts are among the league’s top five). Jackson, meanwhile, will earn $1.797MM in 2017 under the terms of the proven performance escalator.