Former Bills CB Dane Jackson released by Panthers

Could we see a reunion between the Bills and their former seventh-round pick?

The Carolina Panthers released veteran cornerback Dane Jackson on Friday, per a report shared by Adam Schefter. Jackson had signed with the Panthers last offseason, inking a two-year deal worth $8.5 million in total. The Panthers cleared a little over $3 million in cap space by releasing the veteran corner.

Jackson, 28, entered the NFL as a seventh-round draft choice of the Buffalo Bills, who picked him No. 239 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. In nine games with Carolina, Jackson had three starts. He had 23 tackles, two pass breakups, and one tackle for loss on the season.

While with Buffalo, Jackson rose from little-used reserve to key depth piece over the course of his rookie contract and subsequent one-year extension. He played in 61 games with the Bills, making 31 starts. He totaled 152 tackles, 28 pass breakups, and three interceptions in those games. In five career postseason games, Jackson had 16 tackles and five pass breakups.

Jackson fits the profile of the kind of free-agent signing general manager Brandon Beane tries to make. It likely won’t cost Buffalo very much money, and while Jackson has the ability to play well enough over the course of the season, his signing won’t preclude the team from adding another player at the position to compete for both roster space and a starting role.

The Bills like to enter the draft with contingency plans in place for their biggest needs. Veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas is a free agent, and we’ve discussed the need the team has at the position across from Christian Benford. Jackson would give Buffalo’s defense backfield a higher floor while also allowing them to search for a higher ceiling at outside corner.

Should One Bills Drive pursue Jackson, or should they say that enough is enough with the reunion tours between former Bills players and former Panthers alike?