The Philadelphia Eagles didn’t want DeSean Jackson, and the Jets may not want him either. But there is already a small market forming for one of football’s best big-play weapons.
One day after the Eagles shockingly released their leading receiver, seven teams had already expressed interest in acquiring Jackson, according to ProFootballTalk.com. Jets GM John Idzik, however, had not yet reached out to Jackson’s camp as of Friday, the Daily News has learned.
That doesn’t mean the Jets are out of the running. The News reported on Friday that some in the organization were still interested in pursuing Jackson, and with nearly $30 million in cap room, the Jets have the space to add him. During last week’s NFL owners meetings in Orlando, Woody Johnson admitted that the team had conducted internal discussions about Jackson, who had been the subject of trade rumors even before his release.
“We’re looking at a number of players, including DeSean,” Johnson had said.
Still, a report that surfaced on NJ.com on Friday, stating that Jackson had an alleged association with members of a gang in Southern California, is causing many to weigh the risks of signing Jackson. Philly realeased the receiver after several weeks of trying to find a trade partner.
At 27, Jackson is in the prime of his career, and he’s coming off a terrific season in which he set career highs in receiving yards (1,332) and catches (82). But a little less than a year after Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was charged with murder, many front-office people — not just Idzik — are proceeding with caution in regards to Jackson.
“Not sure,” said one league personnel man in a text message, when asked about acquiring Jackson. “Gotta read into things.”
Still, Jackson’s talent is enticing, and while the Jets’ current GM has been wary, the team’s former GM could envision Johnson taking the plunge.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Tannenbaum said on SiriusXM Radio on Saturday morning, when asked if he could see Woody Johnson signing off on the receiver.
The Jets might provide a stable situation, reuniting Jackson with his former Philly offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and ex-Eagles QB Michael Vick, a close friend who could help keep Jackson in line. Jackson would also round out the Jet receiving corps nicely, serving as a deep threat complement to newly signed Eric Decker and holdover
Jeremy Kerley, opening intermediate routes.
But for a team that just released problem child Santonio Holmes, it may not be worth the risk. And while Idzik ponders Jackson, other teams are starting to explore the possibility.
The Kansas City Chiefs, led by former Eagles coach Andy Reid, are among those interested, according to reports, although they might need to rework some player contracts to create cap room.
The receiver has a meeting scheduled with the Redskins on Monday, according various reports.
The Oakland Raiders have been studying Jackson — who played his college ball at nearby Cal — for weeks, according to the NFL Network, and there are rumblings that the Buffalo Bills also have interest.
