By Paul Macrie, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 
The Eagles need to upgrade the receiver position. It has been discussed at length for the past two years, and even the casual watching fans know it needs to be addressed this offseason.
It has become an exhaustive focus and after two years of watching below-average wide receiver play, it is time for Howie Roseman and the front office to fork over some money to enhance the valuable position.
Free agency shouldn't be the only avenue to address the receiver need. Of course, April's NFL Draft will be another market to tap into and the organization will surely be selecting a wideout in the early juncture of the draft. But, two potential free agent receivers make at least some sense for the Eagles. These receivers are similar in playing style, but are more than five years apart in age and playing experience.
DeSean Jackson is a name that has been discussed for the past several months. The impending free agent spent his first six seasons in Philadelphia after getting drafted by the franchise in 2008. He, of course, was surprisingly released in the spring of 2014 and claimed by the Washington Redskins. After spending three seasons in the D.C. area, he has made subtle hints about having interest in returning to the place where he started his NFL career.
Meanwhile, Kenny Stills was a fifth-round pick of the New Orleans Saints in 2013. He spent his first two seasons with the Saints, but was traded to Miami in 2015 , where he has spent the last two seasons. After struggling in his first season with the Dolphins, his play improved in 2016 thanks in large part to new head coach Adam Gase. He caught a career-high nine touchdowns. He, like Jackson, is a "home-run hitting" type receiver, averaging 16.7 yards per catch for his career.
Both of these receivers, though slight of frame, are exactly what the Eagles need when it comes to stretching the field. Stills is the more preferred option because of his age, though he could actually command more years and average annual salary. He is worth the investment because this past season's play indicates he is starting to reach his potential.
Jackson has entered his age 30 season, and that normally means a steady decline is about to commence. He is averaging a stellar 17.7 yards per catch for his entire career, but the concern is paying a large chunk of change for his decline years. A short-term deal makes more sense, but Jackson is probably seeking one more solid payday.
Another reason to potentially stay away from Jackson is avoiding living in the past. In other words, Jackson's impact in Philadelphia was significant during his time in a midnight green uniform, but he wasn't a transcendent player. It wasn't as if he led this team to a Super Bowl. It is time to move on from some of the past players that remain in the league. A younger Stills is a player worth opening the checkbook for.
By no means is Stills a number-one caliber receiver. He can be a very serviceable secondary option, and can take a lot of pressure off of Jordan Matthews and Zach Ertz. Signing a player such as Stills and drafting a player like Mike Williams would quickly solve the Eagles' woes at receiver. Of course, it is easier said than done, but it needs to be a plan worth considering this offseason.
Miami is interested in resigning Stills, however. According to overthecap.com, the Dolphins have approximately $30 million in cap space, while the Eagles are holding at a meager $7.2 million. There are options, as explained in a feature several weeks ago, to clear valuable space. But the Dolphins appeared to be set up better to bring Stills back at a reasonable price. Roseman and company will need to get really creative during the next several months to make things work in order to upgrade at wide receiver.
If Stills resigns with Miami or goes elsewhere, Jackson should be deemed as a secondary target. He can be had at a shorter-term deal, but the Eagles will probably have to offer heavy guarantees for those two or three years. Is it worth the gamble? Well, it sure would be a gamble, and it is difficult to say.
If anyone is to read into everything Roseman stated during his end of the season press conference a few weeks ago, he did elude to avoiding quick fixes, "putting a bandaid" on positions that need long-term solutions. It is possible he learned from some of those mistake he made last offseason. If that is the case, Kenny Stills is the more attractive option compared to DeSean Jackson.
Jackson would be a brief box office hit if he returns to Philadelphia. Stills would pay bigger dividends, potentially helping the team now and into future years. Time will tell with which direction the Eagles' organization decides to head into with the free agent receiver market.
Either way, the floor is yours Howie Roseman.
