By Paul Bowman, Sports Talk Philly Editor
For the second time in one day, the Eagles are adding a Jackson to their team. After reportedly agreeing to a deal with defensive tackle Malik Jackson, the Eagles are bringing home receiver DeSean Jackson, who began his career in Philadelphia, according to multiple sources.
Derrick Gunn of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports that the Eagles are sending a 2019 sixth-round pick and a 2020 seventh-round pick to the Bucs for Jackson.
League source tells me the eagles gave a 2019 6th round pick and a 2020 7th round pick to get Desean Jackson
— Derrick Gunn (@RealDGunnNBCS) March 11, 2019
Update: The original report was incorrect in saying that the Eagles will be sending a 2020 seventh-round pick to the Bucs. Instead, the Eagles will be receiving the Buc’s 2020 seventh-round pick.
The Philadelphia Eagles have a need at wide receiver with the only known entities returning at the position being Alshon Jeffery, who has suffered a torn rotator cuff and broken ribs in his two seasons with the team, and Nelson Agholor, who currently carries a large $9.2 million cap hit.
The Birds bringing back Jackson gives them a deep threat who can stretch the field. This will allow the Birds to open up the short field for Alshon, Ertz and Goedert. In five seasons since leaving Philadelphia, he’s averaged 17.8 yards per catch. He also led the NFL in yards per catch ($18.9) in 2018.
The Eagles will most likely rework Jackson’s deal. Howard Eskin of WIP is reporting that Jackson says he has a new three-year deal worked out with the team. You can choose to believe that or not, but no league source has mentioned a new deal as of this writing.
DeSean Jackson back with #Eagles? Talking with someone close to DeSean Jackson he is telling people close to him that he has a 3 year contract all but done with Eagles. Still with Tampa Bay #Buccaneers so that has to be worked out to come back to Phila. @SportsRadioWIP
— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) March 11, 2019
Jackson’s current contract would place a $10 million hit on the Eagles cap room – a deal that would leave the Eagles no room to operate in free agency if you include the Malik Jackson signing and the signing of draft picks.
Jackson’s return with no new deal certainly increases the likelihood of an Agholor trade unless Nelson signs an extension himself.