DeSean Jackson reportedly prefers to reunite with the Eagles

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are reportedly shopping DeSean Jackson and the veteran wide receiver prefers to reunite with the Philadelphia Eagles, according to a report from ESPN.

On the eve of the NFL’s legal tampering period, multiple sources told ESPN that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been actively shopping wide receiver DeSean Jackson for a potential trade and that the Philadelphia Eagles would be a preferred destination for Jackson. A trade would be preferred for the Bucs, but some teams ESPN has spoken to believe Jackson will be released rather than traded. Jackson is still under contract and the Bucs do have the option of holding onto him for 2019. The Eagles are expected to have mutual interest in Jackson, who would provide the deep threat they sorely lacked in 2018 after Mike Wallace broke his leg Week 2 -- against Tampa. However, it’s to be determined whether they’d be willing to trade for him or would only be in play if he is released.

This development lines up with a previous report from ESPN. Back in late December, Josina Anderson reported Jackson wanted to move on from the Buccaneers. She also said to “keep an eye on Philly” as one of Jackson’s potential landing spots. NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark also said Jackson “would really like to return and play for the Eagles next season.”

New Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians has seemingly tried to convince Jackson to stay in Tampa but it clearly seems like Jackson doesn’t want to be there anymore. The Bucs have some financial motivation to move on from Jackson as they currently projected to have the fewest cap space in the NFL at just over $2 million. Trading or releasing Jackson would create $10 million with zero dead money.

Getting something in return for Jackson would obviously be preferable for the Bucs. But if teams feel like Tampa might just cut him anyway — as ESPN mentioned to be the case — then they might just wait for the Bucs to cut him.

It’s hard to imagine the Eagles wanting to give up much, if anything, in a trade for Jackson. He’s set to be a free agent after 2019. It’d seem like they’d be much more interested in him as a free agent, though. Philadelphia certainly needs to add a deep threat to their offense.

Jackson turns 33 this season but he’s still very much a burner. He led the NFL with 18.9 yards per reception in 2018. It’d be fun to see the Eagles give Carson Wentz a weapon like this to work with.

It’d also be fun to see Jackson back in Philly. The Eagles’ 2008 second-round back was obviously responsible for some fun memories prior to his unceremonious release back in 2014.

Not everyone is so sold on the idea of a DJacc return, though. His inconsistency and lack of effort at times caused some to sour on him. Check out this poll back from December:

I think it’s a little interesting we continue to hear Jackson is interested in going back to Philly and not necessarily the other way around. This latest report does say that the Eagles are expected to have mutual interest, so a reunion does seem possible, but I can’t help but feel like Philly is being used to help drive up Jackson’s potential market.

So, what do you say. Do you want DJacc bacc? What’s the most you’d give up in a trade, if anything?