It has been a busy offseason for the Oakland Raiders as they have made several moves that have some analysts vaulting them to the top of the AFC West, most notably landing Marshawn Lynch and inking Derek Carr to a five-year deal. With those two in town heading into the 2017 NFL season, the Raiders look poised to make noise around the league.
While Carr gets most of the credit for revitalizing Oakland’s offense with his precision passing, it is the team’s offensive line that makes it all possible. The Raiders have heavily invested in their offensive line to protect Carr and according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Raiders have agreed to an extension with Gabe Jackson:
The #Raiders are signing G Gabe Jackson to a 5-year extension worth a whopping $56 million, source said. Locking up their future.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 29, 2017
The deal should not come as a surprise as general manager Reggie McKenzie said that Jackson would be next in line for an extension. The right guard’s new contract will keep him with the Raiders through the 2022 season and allow him to earn almost $11.5 million annually. Now one of the highest paid guards in the league, Jackson will need to prove he is worthy of such a lucrative extension.
Jackson was taken with the No. 81 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft — after Khalil Mack and Carr — to set up the franchise’s foundation. The 25-year-old spent his first two seasons in the NFL at left guard, starting 28 games, before transitioning over to right guard after the Raiders signed Kelechi Osemele.
