DeSean Jackson is one of the more intriguing NFL free agents this spring, and he could be eyeing an up-and-coming NFC team as his next landing spot.
After spending six years with the Philadelphia Eagles, Jackson was released by Chip Kelly before the 2014 season. The Washington Redskins happily signed him, and he’s spent the past three years catching bombs from Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins to the tune of 19 yards per reception and 14 touchdowns.
Now set to be an unrestricted agent, the 30-year-old veteran speedster still has plenty to offer a team in need of a downfield threat.
One of those teams is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team that features a quarterback Jackson might love to play with.
I’m told #Bucs could be a posb destination for impending FA WR Desean Jackson. Understanding is Jameis Winston has an existing rapport w/ DJ
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) February 21, 2017
As a long-term solution to the team’s deficit at receiver, this isn’t a tremendous fit given Jackson’s age. But as a short-term infusion of talent, this would be a brilliant get for the Bucs.
Despite his early success after joining Tampa Bay in free agency back in 2012, Vincent Jackson’s ability to produce and stay healthy dropped off a cliff the past two seasons. This put a lot of pressure on Winston and receiver Mike Evans, and they have developed one of the sweetest connections in all the NFL. But they need help.
After Evans, Tampa Bay’s receiving corps doesn’t currently offer much in the way of talent as it’s currently put together. Promising tight end Cameron Brate was the team’s second-leading receiver, and while that’s nice it would be much more beneficial to have an actual receiver picking up the slack with Brate as the respectable third option.
With all that said, Jackson would be a welcome addition in Tampa Bay. His ability to stretch the field vertically would put tremendous pressure on opposing defenses (like this), and he’s still very effective taking short slant patterns for long gains as well.
It’s going to be interesting to see where he lands in 2017. One possibility is a return to Philadelphia, which is something he’s reportedly considering. But he could do a lot worse than Tampa Bay.