Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie has approached this offseason with a championship mentality, as he knows that the Raiders were an injury away from possibly winning a Super Bowl last season.
He has improved the offense through free agency and trades, adding skilled players Cordarrelle Patterson, Jared Cook and Marshawn Lynch, and he has improved the defense through the draft, taking cornerback Gareon Conley in the first round.
Additionally, he has locked up the organization’s franchise player longterm, recently agreeing to a record breaking contract extension with quarterback Derek Carr.
It appears McKenzie is not done yet though, as according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Raiders have signed guard Gabe Jackson to a five-year, $56 million extension:
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
Jackson was a third round pick of the Raiders in 2014 out of Mississippi State, as he was part of that stellar draft class that also brought Carr and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack to Oakland.
In three season with the Raiders Jackson has played 45 games, starting 44 of them. He moved to right guard last season and found a home after playing left guard his first two seasons.
He, along with Donald Penn, Rodney Hudson, Kelechi Osemele and the rest of the Raiders offensive line unit gave up just 18 sacks last season, which was the least in the NFL. They will all be back in 2017, and will look to continue that stellar play.
