DeSean Jackson requests trade: Should the Eagles bring him back?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver DeSean Jackson is requesting to be traded prior to the deadline on Tuesday, October 30, according to a report from NFL insider Ian Rapoport.

The trade deadline looms on Tuesday, and if DeSean Jackson has his way, he will be heavily involved in it. The veteran Pro Bowl receiver recently requested a trade from the Bucs, sources say, as Jackson hopes to find a team that can better make use of his talents. The team has refused to grant him that request. With a few days to go before the trade deadline, Jackson’s name becomes a fascinating one to watch. Do the Bucs hold firm and keep one of their playmakers in a crucial season for all involved? The belief is they do, but that won’t stop teams from calling.

The Bucs are currently 3-3 heading into their Week 8 matchup against the Bengals in Cincinnati on Sunday. If they win, it’d be hard to imagine they’d want to give Jackson away. If they lose, however, they’ll drop to 3-4 and might be more willing to sell. Especially if 5-1 Saints and 4-2 Panthers also win on Sunday.

Despite the fact he turns 32 years old in December, Jackson is still one of the league’s most dangerous deep threats. Philadelphia experienced this first-hand when they lost to the Buccaneers in Week 2. Jackson’s averaging a whopping 22.9 yards per reception this season. That kind of big play ability is sorely lacking from the Eagles’ offense right now.

Trading for Jackson won’t be cheap. I’d guess the cost is likely at least a third-round pick, if not more. In addition, Jackson would cost around $5.8 million in cap space for the rest of this season. He then carries a relatively reasonable $10 million cap hit in 2019, though that money wouldn’t guaranteed if the Eagles acquired him in a trade.

Trading for Jackson makes a lot of sense purely from an on-field perspective. There are off-field considerations to be made, though, given how Jackson was unceremoniously released by the Eagles in 2014. Chip Kelly rightfully deserves blame for that occurrence, but he wasn’t the only one in the organization who wanted Jackson gone. Note that Howie Roseman was still officially the general manager back then and team owner Jeffrey Lurie ultimately signed off on Jackson’s dismissal.

With Jackson wanting out, the Eagles should at least call the Bucs and see what the asking price is.

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UPDATE: NFL insider Mike Garafolo thinks the Eagles could be a potential landing spot for Jackson.

“The Eagles have checked on wide receivers, particularly receivers with speed that can open up things down the field.”

Also, Ian Rapoport had this to say:

“We will see now if the Bucs continue to rebuff interest from other teams. You mentioned the Eagles, they do very much need a receiver, so clearly we’re gong to be keeping our eyes on the one.”