It's no secret that Tampa Bay is in the market for a wide receiver with declining veteran Vincent Jackson's contract expiring in the coming weeks.
If the Buccaneers can pair a dangerous deep threat with Pro Bowl wideout Mike Evans and emerging tight end Cameron Brate, quarterback Jameis Winston will have a chance to lead one of the league's highest-octane attacks in 2017.
To that end, Winston has begun recruiting free agent speedster DeSean Jackson.
"I've met him before, and we want DeSean. You better believe we want DeSean here," Winston said Wednesday, via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times. "I think he would be a great asset to our team. Me growing up an Eagles fan, seeing what he did for the Eagles and back in his Cal days and even with the Redskins, I would love to have DeSean."
At 30 years old, Jackson is still playing at a high level, leading all receivers in yards per catch (17.9) while notching his fifth career 1,000-yard season in 2016. Only five players caught more passes of 20-plus yards than Jackson's 19 last year.
Although Jackson's preference is to return to the Redskins, there are signs that the team is unwilling to meet his asking price. Earlier this month, the Washington Post reported that Jackson's play has been "too inconsistent for management's taste."
Eager to test his value on the open market, Jackson is expected to draw interest from the Eagles and Rams in addition to the Bucs and Redskins.
With nearly $70 million available in salary-cap space, the Buccaneers can make it tough to match their offer if they deem Jackson a top priority when the new league year starts on March 9.
