With the NFL’s trade deadline approaching next week, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver DeSean Jackson has requested a trade from the team according to reports.
This could possibly stem from Tampa Bay electing to give quarterback Jamies Winston his starting job back after coming off suspension, who Jackson has struggled to gain chemistry with on the field, instead of staying with Ryan Fitzpatrick, who Jackson wanted as the Bucs’ starter following the duo’s hot start.
With Fitzpatrick, Jackson had nine catches for 275 yards and three touchdowns through the first two weeks of the season. However, with Jamies Winston under center, it’s been a completely different story. The tandem has only connected for 214 total yards and in a 26-23 overtime against the Cleveland Browns last week, Jackson had a season-low two catches for 25 yards.
Jackson, 31, this season has eclipsed the 100-yard mark in three of his first four games. The three-time Pro Bowler remains one of the NFL’s foremost deep threats and has a league-best 22.9 yards per reception (526 yards on 23 catches) among qualified receivers this season and has 571 receptions for 10,013 yards and 52 touchdowns for his career.
Jackson is making $11 million this year and has an unguaranteed $10 million next year.
Bucs general manager Jason Licht is reportedly not open to trading one of the league’s most dangerous deep threats. Expect plenty of teams to be making calls to Tampa Bay before the deadline.
