Inside the Iggles
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Re-signing DeSean Jackson must be Eagles’ top priority

By Louie DiBiase

Dec 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson (11) carries the ball for a touchdown as Philadelphia Eagles safety Rodney McLeod (23) defends in the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Washington defeated Philadelphia 27-22. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson (11) carries the ball for a touchdown as Philadelphia Eagles safety Rodney McLeod (23) defends in the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Washington defeated Philadelphia 27-22. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Philadelphia Eagles need a receiver. DeSean Jackson needs a team. Boom. Reunion initiated.

While watching DeSean Jackson burn Leodis McKelvin on an 81 yard touchdown, it was hard not to feel nostalgic, flashing back to the old days when Jackson was terrorizing secondaries in midnight green rather than burgundy and gold.

Hope was installed into the minds of all Philadelphia Eagles fans that a 2017 reunion could be a possibility after Jackson burned the Eagles for 102 yards and a touchdown.

Jackson not only confirmed the need for an overhaul at cornerback, but he also showed what the Eagles have been missing at wide receiver since his departure in 2014.

Jackson played in six seasons for the Eagles, racking up 6,117 yards and 32 touchdowns over that span.

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After coming off a 2013 season where Jackson had career highs in receptions, yards and touchdowns, Jackson was suddenly cut by then head coach Chip Kelly before the 2014 season.

Turn the clock ahead three seasons later and the Eagles have an opportunity to erase what was a detrimental mistake.

The nine-year veteran is set to hit the open market this spring and according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, both the Eagles and Jackson could be interested in a potential reunion.

It is clear that the Eagles need help at wide receiver. Without Jackson, the vertical passing game has almost been nonexistent.

So far this season, all Eagles receivers have combined for 22 plays of 20+ yards. Go back to 2013, Jackson’s final season, and you will find 80+ plays of 20+ yards.

Jeremy Maclin provided stability in 2014 but since then, only Jordan Matthews has made any sort of impact at wideout.

Matthews has mainly been used in the slot, so the need for an outside receiver may be number one on the list this off season.

Many have been hesitant when getting on board with re-signing Jackson for a few reasons.

After all, by the start of the 2017 season, Jackson will be 30 years old. Eventually he will lose some of his speed.

Then there are his character concerns. Kelly supposedly cut Jackson because of potential gang ties and repeated cases where Jackson would miss meetings and question Kelly’s methods of coaching.

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Neither should be a concern for the Eagles.

There has been no sort of drop off or off-field issues since Jackson signed with Washington.

Since returning from injury in Week 12, Jackson has 12 catches for 330 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 27.5 YPC

He has 8 catches for 279 yards and two touchdowns in his last three games, averaging 34.9 YPC.

Could Jackson eventually lose that jaw dropping speed that Eagles and Redskins fans have grown to love (and hate)?

Eventually, he will.

However, that doesn’t mean a two or three-year deal isn’t plausible for a team that desperately needs a receiver that can take the top off defenses.

There isn’t a single receiver currently on the Eagles that strikes fear into the eyes of opposing teams.

Next: Michael Floyd to the Eagles?

Imagine what Carson Wentz and his incredible arm strength could do with a historically great deep threat like Jackson.

Imagine what Jordan Matthews and Zach Ertz could do underneath with defenses zoned in on Jackson downfield.

Gives me goosebumps every time.

Signing Jackson won’t solve all of the Eagles’ problems at wide receiver.

Howie Roseman still needs to find a true No. 1 receiver on the outside. But that doesn’t mean Jackson couldn’t add a huge boost to the offense in 2017.

With Jackson, Matthews, a rookie receiver and what could be a much improved Dorial Green-Beckham after a full off-season in Philadelphia, Wentz and the Eagles would be much better off to take this offense to new heights in 2017.

Jackson gave the Eagles some incredible memories, but nostalgia isn’t the source of my motivation here.

Forget that Jackson was an Eagle for a minute. There is a receiver on the market regarded as one of the greatest deep threats of all time.

This player is second behind only Jerry Rice in NFL history with 22 touchdowns of 60+ yards.

The Eagles, who are 30th in passing plays of 25 yards or more desperately need a receiver that Wentz can push the ball downfield to.

On a short term deal, that guy is potentially yours.

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