Wide receiver DeSean Jackson wants to be traded, but the Buccaneers don’t sound inclined to fulfill his request. When asked about the possibility of a DJax deal over the weekend, GM Jason Licht indicated that Jackson will be a part of the team beyond Tuesday’s trade deadline. 
“I’ll say this. DeSean Jackson and I have a great relationship,” Licht said on Sunday (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). “He’s one of my favorite people on the team, and Dirk [Koetter] has a great relationship with him and he’s obviously a terrific player for us. We’re 3-3, we’re headed into big game today, we’ve got a big stretch of games coming up for us, and we don’t like to talk about these stories. But I can say that my job and our job here is to field the best roster that we can to win games, and DeSean is a huge, huge part of that, not just today, but for the rest of the season. Other than that, I don’t have anything else to add.”
Of course, after yesterday’s 37-34 loss to the Bengals, the Bucs are now 3-4, and their offense is chock full of question marks. Jackson was targeted eight times against Cincinnati, but he wasn’t able to do much with those balls outside of his 60-yard touchdown grab in the second quarter.
Jackson is in Year 2 of a three-year deal, $33.5MM deal he signed with the team in 2017. He has yet to develop a rapport with quarterback Jameis Winston, as evidenced by his disappointing 50/668/3 stat line last season. Licht says he wants to hold on to the veteran, but the soon-to-be 32-year-old would rather join a team that can utilize his deep field skills.
For what it’s worth, the Bucs are considering benching Winston in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick, a move that could benefit Jackson. With Fitzmagic on the field for the first the first two games of the season, Jackson had nine receptions for an eye-popping 275 yards and three scores, good for an average of 30.56 yards per catch.
It’s time to move on from Winston, trade him or make him inactive for the season.
Fitz has been an inspiration, but he’s not the future, he’s what is is, a top-notch backup that every team wishes they had.
It’s time to see what Ryan Griffin can do as a starter. There is still time for the Bucs to make the playoffs, but they must stop rolling with Winston or this season is over only 7 games in. Sadly, that’s all too familiar to us that are Bucs fans.
Want to be a successful NFL HC Koetter and save the season doing it? Then grow a pair and make the boldest move to save the season, your job and the job of many others, and maybe build a true contender doing it, start Griffin! Go Bucs!
That would absolutely be a bold move, bold enough that I kinda like it
I like it. All I know is Winston must be gone. Trade him for anything you can get. He’s a cancer to this team right now.
If boldness is all you want then bring back Mike Glennon. Oh, you want to win too?…then forget what I just said.
I just want to know why you wouldn’t want to throw to DeSean Jackson? He runs by everyone.
DeSean Jackson’s catch ratio is not the bed (mid-fifties). Some seasons his YPC is high enough (over 20) to justify his mediocre hands and concentration. Some seasons not. Jackson is best paired with a solid possession receiver like Pierre Garcon (on the Redskins) or Mike Evans (Buccaneers). Definitely needs a quarterback who throws well long though. He’d have no business in current Redskins as Alex Smith doesn’t like to throw long. Same deal with Buccaneers with Winston or Cowboys with Prescott. Jackson needs a real gunslinger to shine.
I’d love to see him line up with Alshon for the Eagles.
Yessssss Dark Knight!!!!
Offense full of questions? They have the top ranked over KC by 150 yards with one game less. Its not moving the ball …it’s hanging on to it. A lot of wasted yards no doubt.