2012 NFL Free Agents: Could the Patriots Make a Play for DeSean Jackson?

During Bill Belichick's reign with the New England Patriots, we have seen troublesome players come to town in hopes of winning a Super Bowl. Whether it be Randy Moss, Corey Dillon or Albert Haynesworth.

Not all of these transactions work out—prime example: Albert Haynesworth—but for the most part, Belichick has done a phenomenal job at evaluating talent and taking troublesome players and getting them fully committed to working as a team and sharing one common goal: A Super Bowl. 

One troubled player that Belichick may seek to grab is Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson.

The 25-year-old All Pro wide receiver will reportedly be franchised by the Eagles this offseason but that doesn't mean he'll be an Eagle for the long-run. Quite possibly the Eagles would be locking him up just to get something in return for his services via trade. 

That's where the Patriots come in.

Taking a look at Jackson and putting his attitude issues aside, he is one extremely talented player that fits exactly what the Patriots need: A dynamic, playmaking wide receiver. 

This past season with the Eagles, Jackson played in a total of 15 games while recording 58 receptions for 961 yards and four touchdowns. Granted this was a rather down-year for him but we all know that the talent is there. 

As Jackson ultimately disconnected himself from his teammates this past season, I find it hard to believe that he will even want to work out a long-term deal with the Eagles and ultimately they may be forced to trade him. 

If New England were to show any interest in Jackson, it would have to be for the right price. 

We all know Belichick loves his draft picks but he does have two first rounders and two second rounders this season and could turn them into trading chips for the 25-year-old. 

Acquiring Jackson would definitely be a gamble, as bringing in cast-offs is a tricky operation but Jackson's extreme talent and skills fit exactly what New England needs offensively—which could cause the scale to tip towards his talents more than his character issues. 

Philadelphia will have until March 5 to place their franchise tag on Jackson with free agency starting March 13, which opens up the windows for trades. 

With time running out in Tom Brady's career with the Patriots, Belichick may want to pull the trigger on something this drastic—but of course, we'll just have to wait and see. 

Be sure to check out Tony Santorsa's blog: PatriotsPlus