DeSean Jackson: Does Franchise Tag Mean Eagles Want to Deal Him?

The Philadelphia Eagles did the smart thing on Thursday afternoon, slapping the franchise tag on the mercurial but exciting DeSean Jackson, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter:

"

Eagles place franchise tag on WR DeSean Jackson.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 1, 2012"

But don't think this is a move that will lead to the Eagles trading Jackson—I firmly believe the team knows that his ability to stretch defenses down the field and score every time he touches the ball is a vital aspect to their offense.

Jackson's presence leads to many teams playing the Eagles over the top, which opens up the middle of the field and leads to advantageous matchups for Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant and Brent Celek.

He's also a threat as a punt returner—just ask any New York Giants fan.

With the possibility that several prominent receivers could hit the market, teams may be less likely to trade for a player like Jackson when they could simply sign a different receiver. Jackson's attitude and dip in production may scare teams off as well.

Of course, many folks in Philadelphia know a little secret—Jackson deserved a new contract last year, especially given all of the signings the team made in free agency. While his demeanor and play was disappointing last year, most know how valuable he is to the Eagles offense.

And for what it's worth, he apologized for his behavior at the end of the season and said he would accept the franchise tag. I believe he wants to remain an Eagle.

So don't expect Jackson to be headed anywhere next year. Despite some rocky times, he and the Eagles are perfect together.

Hit me up on Twitter—my tweets are more entertaining than the Slam Dunk Contest.