What Trading Away DeSean Jackson Would Mean For The Eagles

Dec 15, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson (10) catches a pass against the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Vikings win 48-30. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson may be one of the few remaining “diva” wide receivers remaining in the NFL, and he showcased that diva personality asking for a new contract back in January.

“I’m going into the third year of my deal. Just feel it’s deserving. So we’ll see,” Jackson said. “I feel like I’ve proved everything on the field. To do some of the things that top receivers in this league do, I think like I’m right there at the top. So we’ll see how it goes.”

Jackson signed a five-year deal worth $48.5 million and $18million guaranteed just two years ago in 2012, certainly the Eagles figured that would keep him quiet for a while. Obviously that wasn’t be the case.

There is no doubt that Jackson definitely deserves to be payed, as he is not only one of the Eagles’ best playmakers, but also one of the NFL’s best playmakers. Just how much more does he need to be payed?

Currently he sits behind Calvin Johnson ($16.2M), Larry Fitzgerald($16.1M), Mike Wallace ($12M),Dwayne Bowe ($11.2M), Vincent Jackson ($11.1M) and Percy Harvin($10.7M) in contract terms.

In terms of stats, Jackson did produce more than Wallace, Bowe, Vincent Jackson, and Harvin, but is it the Eagles fault that those players were offered bigger contracts than Jackson and does that give Jackson the right to ask for a new contract after every two years? No and No.

Jackson deserves to get paid more than Bowe and Wallace without a doubt, and Jackson is without a doubt the Eagles best playmaker on the outside, but that doesn’t mean he deserves to get whatever he wants, when he wants it, and then go out and have a poor season if he doesn’t get it.

With a new regime in place with head coach Chip Kelly, and general manager Howie Roseman calling more of the shots than he did when Andy Reid was in town, it could make sense for the Eagles to trade Jackson.

Realistically the Eagles would be very lucky to get a first round pick unless a team like St. Louis or Cleveland, who are both in need of a receiver and both have an extra first round selection, would be willing to give up one of those first round picks. Most likely the Eagles would get a second or third round pick along with or fourth or fifth.

The Eagles would then need to find somebody who could take on his $12.5 million cap hit next season under his current contract. His new team would be able to have a deal in place that would get that number down, which is doable.

However, if I’m Howie Roseman, Im not trading Jackson this year and I’m not giving him a new contract unless I get an early to mid-first round pick so that I could have a shot at drafting Sammy Watkins or would for sure be able to draft Mike Evans, and even then it would be a tough call.

Unlike a rookie, Jackson has produced at the NFL level and there is never a guarantee that a rookie comes in and does well. For all we know, they could turn out to be a bust. Even though this class is deep at wide receiver, if I traded away Jackson and decided to replace him though the draft, Id have to get one of the top wide receivers.

Trading away Jackson could also mean the downfall of Chip Kelly, there is no doubt that Kelly did well with what he had last season, but you don’t just go ahead and trade your second best offensive weapon, especially with how much of your offensive success revolves around him.

Last season in the playoff game against the Saints, the Eagles offense never really got going until Jackson finally started making plays down the field. If McCoy can’t get the offense going, the Eagles need somebody at the wide receiver position that can.

Putting faith in a guy that is coming off of a torn ACL in Maclin, another guy that is coming off of a career year in Riley Cooper, and an unproven rookie, would be pretty risky. Trading Jackson would make the Eagles pretty thin at the wide receiver position, not to mention the already released their go to guy on third down in Jason Avant.

The Eagles also have young quarterback in Nick Foles, and taking away his best target on the outside could hurt his production going into his second season as a full time starter.

Whether or not the DeSean Jackson trade talk is just talk, or if its actually legitimate will remain uncertain, but either way the outcome of the situation will affect the success of the team. The Eagles have a good thing going right now and they have a lot of promise. There is no reason to seriously change the pieces they already have in place and no reason to go ahead and trade DeSean Jackson.