The Eagles are releasing veteran wide receiver DeSean Jackson, according to multiple reports on Friday. The wideout himself posted what appeared to be a farewell on Instagram shortly before reports began to circulate, saying “Looking forward to my next chapter” and “Philadelphia is always Love.”
It is no secret that the Eagles face a difficult salary cap situation this offseason, and this move will save them approximately $4.9 million in cap space. The team will also carry a $5.8 million dead cap as a result of the move, but it’s a net gain of roughly $4.9 from his expected cap hit of $10.66 million. NBC Sports’ John Clark first reported the move.
With the release of Jackson and yesterday’s trade of quarterback Carson Wentz to the Colts, the Eagles already have almost $40 million in dead cap hits for a 2021 season that is expected to see a significantly reduced salary cap. But with the team looking to get younger as they enter a rebuilding phase and Jackson set to count for more than $10 million against the cap, his release was one of the more obvious ones to see coming.
Over the last two seasons, Jackson appeared in just eight games for the Eagles, catching 23 of his 36 targets for 395 yards and three touchdowns. While he has long been a fan favorite in Philadelphia, his recent tenure with the team was a major disappointment due to multiple injuries causing him to miss 24 of the team’s 32 regular season games.
With the Eagles so far over the projected salary cap for the upcoming season, Jackson is likely the first of many cuts to come. Alshon Jeffery remains on the roster but recently restructured his contract and is likely to be released any day now, while other potential cuts or trade candidates include Malik Jackson, Zach Ertz, Derek Barnett, and Marquise Goodwin, among others.
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Mike Maher is the editor and publisher of The Birds Blitz. Follow him on Twitter @mikeMaher and @TheBirdsBlitz and check out his archive for all of his latest stories about the Eagles and the NFL.
