In his end-of-season press conference, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll singled out the interior offensive line as an area where the team can "grow and get better," and following the start of the new league year, Seattle wasted little time in taking a step to get better there, acquiring guard Gabe Jackson in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders that became official over the weekend with all trade conditions being satisfied.
To acquire Jackson, the Seahawks are sending their fifth-round pick in this year's draft to Las Vegas.
Jackson, 29, has started 99 of 100 games played over his seven-year career with the Raiders, including all 16 games last season. He played left guard his first two seasons, then moved to right guard for the past five years.
With Mike Iupati, Seattle's starting left guard the past two seasons, retiring earlier this offseason, Jackson would seem a likely candidate to take over that job unless the Seahawks think the better guard combination involves moving Damien Lewis from right guard to left guard in order to keep Jackson at the position he has played more recently in his career.
Jackson figures to help bolster Seattle's pass protection in particular, having not allowed a sack in 2020, according to Pro Football Focus. In four of Jackson's seven seasons, the Raiders have finished in the top 10 in the NFL for fewest sacks allowed, including a 2016 season in which the Raiders gave up a league-low 18 sacks, with Jackson being named a Pro-Bowl alternate.
