Will Jackson Fly Home to Philly?
With the Eagles’ poor record largely due to their lack of offense, Howie Roseman and the front office will be on a crusade to find skill position players this offseason. An interesting report came out Sunday morning linking a former Eagle back to the team who drafted him.
Jackson was initially released by Chip Kelly in 2014, for reasons that remain unknown to this day. The 2008 second-round pick signed a two-year deal in Washington, and has earned $10.5 million a year as a Redskin. However, the team is expected to let him walk with the emergence of Jamison Crowder, coupled with the expected return to health of Josh Doctson and the need to re-sign Pierre Garcon.
While many have criticized Jackson for a dip in production, the former California Golden Bear has hovred around his career standards this year. In ten games, Jackson has amassed 38 receptions for 585 yards and three touchdowns. When extrapolated to fit a full season, Jackson’s productivity closely matches his career average: 61 catches for 936 yards and five touchdowns. While his yards per catch average is down from 17.6 to 15.4, Jackson has averaged one reception of over 20 yards per game this year, just as he had in his first two years in D.C.
The biggest concerns with Jackson remain his age and injury history. The receiver missed eight games combined in his first two years in Washington, and has already missed a game this year to boot. While his style of play is not prone to taking a lot of hits, Jackson’s slight frame and aging body may make time out a regularity. His age also plays a factor in a possible decline in speed, though his yards per catch average indicates that he still has fuel left in the tank.
The Eagles would be wise to pursue Jackson on a two-to-three year deal in the range of $6.5-7 million a season. They would also need to draft a receiver with one of their top two picks, so that Jackson doesn’t have to play the lead role in the passing game. A top three of Jackson, a high draft pick, and Jordan Matthews would certainly strike fear in opposing defenses come 2017, if it came at the right price.
Photo: Mr. Schultz (via: Wikimedia Commons)
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Categorized:Eagles