DeSean Jackson (10) returns a punt against the Minnesota Vikings in the third quarter at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Vikings win 48-30. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
One of the most interesting storylines in the DeSean Jackson sweepstakes is cost, because the main reason why teams were unwilling to make a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for the talented wideout was his price tag. Jackson would have made $30 million over the next three seasons under his deal with the Eagles, and that was deemed as too high of a price to pay for somebody with red flags (the biggest being the Eagles desire to trade him). Teams also knew that they would have to part ways with a high draft pick in addition to spending $10 million annually, so that made Jackson’s price tag even more of a buzzkill.
ESPN 980’s Chris Russell reports that a source “not directly connected but informed” hears DeSean Jackson is “very much looking” to snag $9-10 million per year on the open market. That’s exactly the kind of money the Eagles were prepared to pay him, except they weren’t set to spend any guaranteed money on him, which is something Jackson actually complained about early in the offseason.
Seeing this tweet, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jimmy Kempski replied, “Like I said, won’t be signed soon”. Take Kempski’s word with a heaping plateful of salt, because he is about as well-connected as anyone with the Jackson news. In fact, it was Kempski who first reported the possibility of the Eagles parting ways with Jackson this offseason. If the wideout doesn’t significantly reduce his asking price, then nobody is going to take a flier on him. I’m sure he’ll realize pretty soon that nobody will give in to his demands, if he is indeed looking for that kind of money. He might not be, though, because there are teams with serious interest.