We have already seen several starting-caliber players change teams leading up to next week’s NFL trade deadline, and DeSean Jackson is hoping to be one of the next.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Jackson has asked the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to trade him, but the team has not shown a willingness to grant his request. Jackson wants to be part of an offense where he can be more involved, and he hasn’t shown the same type of chemistry with Jameis Winston that he had early in the year with Ryan Fitzpatrick.
With Fitzpatrick starting, Jackson had 112 yards or more receiving in three of the first four games. He also had three touchdown catches during that span, but he has caught just six passes total in the two games Winston has started.
The Bucs are 3-3, so they still have playoff aspirations. They may be hesitant to trade Jackson because of that, and it seems unlikely that they would get much in return for the 31-year-old. Jackson has a salary of $11 million for this season, so any team that acquired him would be on the hook for the remainder of that. He’s also scheduled to make $10 million in 2019, though that salary is not guaranteed.
Jackson was not listed among the 10 players we see as potential trade candidates ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, but he may force Tampa’s hand.
