Malik

Jackson

Jackson last played for the Browns in 2021, where he started 16 games while totaling a half-sack. A Pro Bowler in 2017 with the Jaguars, Jackson has 35.5 career sacks to his name to go with four fumble recoveries and was a strong interior pass rusher early in his career. He helped anchor a Broncos defensive line in 2015 during their Super Bowl run and was also a part of the 2017 Jaguars team that made a surprise appearance in the AFC Championship Game with Blake Bortles at the helm. A former fifth-round pick from the 2012 class, Jackson played well above his draft capital to carve out a solid career.

Jackson returned to the field last year following a season-ending broken foot in 2019 and contributed 28 total tackles and 2.5 sacks across 538 (49%) defensive snaps for Philadelphia. Cleveland is Jackson’s, 31, third team in the last four seasons, and the fourth for his career. He’ll slide in as a rotational player on passing downs.

Jackson, 31, spent two years in Philly, missing all but one game in 2019 with a broken foot before returning to appear in 15 contests last season. We assume the Eagles are designating Jackson as a post-June 1 cut, clearing $2 million against the cap while eating $3.611 million in dead money. Jackson will be looking for his fourth team.

This is a procedural move — Wentz’s salary would have jumped to $30 million had the Eagles declined. Wentz is now owed $1.38 million and $15.4 million base salaries the next two seasons. The Eagles also picked up options on DE Brandon Graham, OG Isaac Seumalo, and DL Malik Jackson.

Garafolo reports Jackson will undergo surgery next week. Jackson had to be carted off the field after going down 32 snaps into Sunday’s opener. Jackson was released by the Jaguars on the eve of free agency, and the Eagles pounced. It’s a huge loss for the Eagles’ imposing line, though Timmy Jernigan and Hassan Ridgeway will help pick up the slack. Going on 30, Jackson will be missing his first games since 2010. Although Jackson’s contract was announced as “three years,” it was functionally one year. It’s not a guarantee he’s back in Philadelphia next season.

Dot-connecting at its finest. Both Jack Del Rio and John Fox were with the Broncos as defensive coordinator and coach, respectively, when Denver drafted Jackson in the fifth round back in 2012. They won’t be the only two interested in Jackson. A bidding war is likely to ensue, and Jackson could be this year’s highest-paid free agent. He’s said to be seeking $13-14 million annually. With the rising salary cap and need for pass rushers, he may just get it.

Jackson is a scheme-transcendent lineman, and Oakland has dabbled in both 4-3 and 3-4 alignments the past few years. The Raiders primarily fielded a 3-4 in 2015, and the Broncos also ran a 3-4. Only 26 years old, Jackson is coming off career bests in tackles (45), sacks (5), and pass breakups (7). Oakland is loaded with salary cap space and could certainly be Jackson’s highest bid.

The Broncos have been clear about wanting to re-sign the talented lineman, and the other three teams have been linked before. Jackson previously played for coaches in both Chicago (John Fox) and Oakland (Jack Del Rio), and Jacksonville’s cap space rivals the GDP of most island nations. Jackson is reportedly looking for at least $14 million annually on his next deal.

Jackson was carted out of Sunday’s opener and was seen in a walking boot postgame. This looks like a serious foot/ankle injury. Jackson may be a candidate for IR-return depending on the severity. If Jackson needs surgery, he could be done for the year.

The originally reported deal of three years and $10 million never made much sense, but this is still good business for the Eagles. Only 29, Jackson remains a quality and versatile interior pass rusher who should play a big role in replacing Michael Bennett’s production. With Jackson on board, the Eagles will once again boast one of the best defensive lines in the league in 2019.