Raiders: Gabe Jackson set to return for 2020 as salary is now guaranteed
By Justin Fried
Las Vegas Raiders’ right guard Gabe Jackson is set to return for the 2020 season.
The Las Vegas Raiders had a decision to make regarding right guard Gabe Jackson this offseason. And now that the official June 1st deadline has passed, the Raiders have seemingly made their decision.
Jackson will be a member of the Raiders as the franchise plays its first season in Las Vegas. His guaranteed salary all but solidifies that notion.
The veteran guard was set to make $9.6 million this season, but that salary didn’t become guaranteed until after the June 1st deadline had passed. For that reason, there were rumors that the team could look to move on from Jackson in the offseason.
And to some degree that made sense.
Jackson has missed eight games over the past two seasons and while still a good player, he hasn’t played at the level he once did. You could argue that his $9.6 million cap hit is a bit high for a player with his recent injury history and moderate success.
But the Raiders know that he’s still solid and they also know the importance of maintaining chemistry along the offensive line. And with the decision to keep Jackson, the team will now trot out the same starting five along the offensive line that they did last season.
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The Raiders opted for stability by retaining Gabe Jackson.
And given the many changes elsewhere on the offense — primarily at wide receiver — it helps to have some level of stability.
Jackson will still have two more years left under contract even after this season, neither coming with any guaranteed money. Given that his salary will essentially be the exact same in each of those seasons, it’s certainly feasible to see the Raiders moving on after this year.
A lot of that will depend on how Jackson plays in 2020 and if he could play a full 16-game slate for the first time since 2016. But if they want to, they’ll certainly have the option.
Considering the fact that Jackson will be 30-years-old by the start of the 2021 season, it’s very reasonable to assume that this upcoming season could be his last with the Raiders.
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But at least for the time being, it doesn’t appear as though he’s going anywhere.