Philadelphia Eagles: 4 Free Agent WRs That Can Replace Desean Jackson

With the 2011 season being over, the NFL teams are moving towards the next one, evaluating their situation and making plans for the future. That applies for the Philadelphia Eagles too.

The Eagles have completed their coaching line-up and are currently focusing on the NFL Combine and the free agency. Evan Mathis is the only player who runs out of contract and will most likely be re-signed, so everyone else’s future is unclear.

This category includes DeSean Jackson. The four-year veteran will be a free agent, unless the Eagles sign him to a new contract. The two parties, however, appear to be far from each other in financial terms and it appears that talks have hit a snag.

In case a new contract is not signed, Philadelphia has the option to franchise tag Jackson and either keep him or trade him. If Jackson walks away and signs with another team, then a replacement must be found.

While the NFL draft has a handful of quality receivers, the free agency offers players with experience, tested in football’s biggest stage. These are some excellent options for the Eagles.

1) Marques Colston

Marques Colston has been the cornerstone of New Orleans’ receiving corps. The Saints also have Lance Moore and Robert Meachem, but Colston has always been Drew Brees’ favorite option, especially in the endzone.

In 2011, he had eight touchdowns and 1,143 receiving yards (career second best), averaging 14.3 yards per carry. He improved since last year, despite playing 14 games instead of 15.

Colston will be 29 years old next season and while he is not old, he definitely has no more than five productive years ahead of him. Moreover, he’s not the type of player that can burn every cornerback with his speed, but his height and big hands make him a great target.

Colston has been in the NFL since 2006, which means he is very experienced. He can be the perfect complement to Maclin and provide Vick a tremendous endzone target.

With the Saints having to sign a new, top-dollar deal with Brees, Colston might find a more prosperous contract elsewhere. Philadelphia can be that place.

2) Pierre Garcon

Pierre Garcon might be the only footballer in Indianapolis that benefited from Peyton Manning’s absence. The wide receiver from Florida saw increased targets and amassed 947 receiving yards—163 more than last year, with only three more receptions.

Garcon was overshadowed by Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez during his first year with the Colts, but started climbing the depth chart in 2009. With time, the passes intended for him increased and his stats improved.

Unless signed to a new contract, Garcon will hit the free agency alongside fellow wideout Reggie Wayne. Wayne is considered a “hot” name, but he is 33 years old. Garcon is only 25.

The Eagles can get a nice Jackson replacement if they sign Garcon. He is a deep threat, but also a bit taller (6’ 0” instead of 5’ 10”) and more jacked (210lbs instead of 175lbs). Garcon got almost 1,000 yards and six touchdowns with Painter and Orlovsky under center, can you imagine his numbers with Vick?

3) Dwayne Bowe

Dwayne Bowe is a talented receiver with great skills. He had an extraordinary season in 2010, with 1,162 yards and 15 touchdowns. In 2011, however, Matt Cassel was out for a big part of the season and Bowe scored only five times.

Despite that, he almost matched his 2010 yards total, going for 1,159 yards. In Week 5, he had a juggling, one-handed touchdown catch.

The Kansas City Chiefs picked Bowe in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft. He is their best wide receiver and Cassel’s go-to guy.

Bowe has great athleticism. He is not as explosive as Jackson, but once he hits the open field, he can go all the way to the endzone. If the Chiefs don’t re-sign him, he will draw a lot of interest.

Bowe is not an undersized burner, but he can start right away for the Eagles. Other than Maclin, there is not a single receiver on the roster with his talent. Bowe made $2.77 million in 2011—Steve Smith got $2.28. The Eagles can sign him with almost the same money they wasted on a guy that did not help them.

4) Mike Wallace

The Pittsburgh Steelers will do whatever they can to keep Mike Wallace. The former Ole Miss Rebel has been outstanding for them, scoring eight touchdowns and making the 2011 Pro Bowl. Undoubtedly, he is the best wide receiver on the team’s roster.

Wallace is a three-year pro and has already scored 24 touchdowns. He averages 18.7 yards per reception and more than 1,000 yards per season. He looks like a slightly bigger version of DeSean Jackson, but he is also a better athlete.

Wallace is a restricted free agent. If the Eagles offer him a contract and the offer is not matched by the Steelers, then Philadelphia will probably lose a first round pick. However, the Steelers are expected to franchise tag Wallace if they can’t get him a new contract before the free agency window opens.

That makes the “Wallace to Eagles” scenario really hard to materialize. Nevertheless, he is a top-class player and the Eagles should go after him, if he is available.