ESPN is reporting that the Washington Redskins deal with DeSean Jackson is pretty much finalized. The wide receiver scheduled the visit almost immediately after being released by the Philadelphia Eagles. Right now, the Redskins are the only team he is set to talk to and Jackson might not need to worry about scheduling anything else. So if Jackson is the team's latest addition, what does it mean for the wide receivers already on the roster?
Last season, Pierre Garcon was the Redskins' leading receiver with 1,346 yards and five touchdowns. Rookie tight end Jordan Reed was behind him at a distant second with 499 yards while No. 2 recent Santana Moss put up 452 yards. Clearly, there is a big need for Jackson has the ability to really stretch the field and take some of the attention away from Garcon who spent a lot of last season battling double-teams from defenses. However, while Garcon might be getting some attention away from him if Jackson signs, he welcomes the idea of adding another top wide receiver to the mix.
While speaking with a local NBC station in Washington, Garcon praised the idea of bringing in Jackson for offensive help. The wide receiver simply said "it wouldn't be an issue playing with DeSean Jackson. We're all number 1 receivers on the field." That is a very team-first approach for Garcon. Why would he not want Jackson? It might mean Garcon's numbers only improve as the defense is forced to spread out and cover both players.
It still remains to be seen whether or not Jackson will be joining the Redskins. His visit extended into a second day, but Washington is reportedly not making him a top-dollar wide receiver right now. The Washington Post reports that Dan Snyder is not looking to shell out a huge amount of money for Jackson right now and the receiver might have to lower his demands if he wants to play. There has been speculation that he could earn more than Eric Decker, depending on how serious the Redskins are at acquiring him.
Garcon is not the only player pushing for Jackson to join the team. Quarterback Robert Griffin III is hoping to get another top target on the field. The quarterback told ESPN's Britt McHenry that Jackson is a very exciting player who is determined to win, so that is really his type of player. Jackson's 17.2 yards per catch average is another thing that makes him Girffin's "kinda guy." If the Jackson deal is not done, Griffin can expect to be throwing passes to a rookie next year.
