Reggie McKenzie ‘leery about’ signing DeSean Jackson
The Oakland Raiders are viewed as one of the favorites to sign DeSean Jackson, who has local ties to the area that are of some concern, especially after alleged gang ties. A source close to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio stated that Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie is “leery about” signing Jackson, but it’s because he is worried about his “me-first” attitude as opposed to the gang ties that may or may not be true. This concern makes sense, because the Raiders have been running some background checks on him. More importantly, the Philadelphia Eagles released Jackson due to Chip Kelly’s desire to get rid of his top WR for his “me-first” attitude, which is much more concerning than possible gang ties.
McKenzie’s leeriness will most likely cause the Raiders to be more cautious when it comes to giving Jackson a significant contract, and thus I expect the Washington Redskins to sign him. The Redskins look like the clear favorites at this point and are drawing closer to a deal, mostly because they are more willing to spend money on him. While the Raiders would like to have a playmaker of Jackson’s caliber on the roster, it just isn’t worth it for them to spend too much money on him.
Jackson had over 1,300 receiving yards, over 80 receptions, and nine touchdowns last season, and he would be a dangerous weapon on any team after coming off of the best year of his career. It looks like the best option for him is in Washington with RG3, Jordan Reed, Pierre Garcon, and Alfred Morris, but we’ll see if any new information emerges.