DeSean Jackson could be a possible choice for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers come NFL free agency.
Some teams are years away from contending. Other times, they are a player or two away from a championship. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are right in between those notions.
They have the talent to contend, but didn’t reach the playoffs last season with a 9-7 record. However, their fortunes could change quickly if pending free agent wide receiver DeSean Jackson sets his sights on Tampa. According to Josina Anderson of ESPN, Bucs quarterback Jamies Winston has a bond with Jackson that could help the Bucs land the star receiver.
I’m told #Bucs could be a posb destination for impending FA WR Desean Jackson. Understanding is Jameis Winston has an existing rapport w/ DJ
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) February 21, 2017
Winston has slowly but surely developed into one of the NFL’s next great quarterbacks. In his first two NFL seasons, Winston passed for 4,000 yards in each. That statline is now an NFL record for a quarterback starting his career. But with the possible departure of aging receiver Vincent Jackson, a move toward Jackson seems ideal.
"But Jackson’s play showed noticeable decline in 2016. His timing with Jameis Winston looked off. He wasn’t making those leaping catches in traffic or diving into the end zone on those back-shoulder fades we grew so accustomed to seeing. He caught 15 passes for 173 yards and no touchdowns before a knee injury took him out for the season, the final year of a five-year contract"
Jackson, 30, showed last season he still has plenty left in the tank. He posted a 1,000-yard season for the fifth time in his career and scored four touchdowns. If he were to go to Tampa Bay, its wide-open offense could give his statstics a boost.
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Teaming up with receiver Mike Evans could take the Buccaneers from a fringe playoff contender to a legitimate threat in the NFC.