DeSean Jackson: Eagles Sign Star Wideout to 5-Year, $51 Million Extension

DeSean Jackson will finally get paid.

According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Philadelphia Eagles have signed Jackson to a five-year, $51 million deal.

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Filed to ESPN: Eagles gave DeSean Jackson a five-year, $51-million deal.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2012"

This, after the team had slapped Jackson with their franchise tag earlier in the offseason. The Eagles will certainly expect more out of their star receiver than what they got out of him in 2011, when he sulked and slunk his way through the season after seeing everyone else earn big contracts.

Even with his ill-fated training camp hold-out and one-game deactivation, Jackson still managed to string together 58 catches for 961 yards and four touchdowns, though his special teams production dipped on account of career-lows in attempts (18) and yards (121).

Said head coach Andy Reid of retaining Jackson:

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"We are thrilled to be able to keep one of the NFL's top playmakers in Philadelphia. DeSean is a game breaker, he has the speed and ability to score from anywhere on the field, and he has proven himself to be a big threat for our offense. Signing our own players was a big priority for us this offseason and DeSean was certainly high on our list. We are very excited about his future as an Eagle."

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As he should be. The 25-year-old Jackson has surpassed 1,000 yards from scrimmage in each of his first four NFL seasons, including back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving hauls in 2009 and 2010.

With Jackson's deal out of the way, the Eagles can get back to the business of solving their biggest problems, namely protecting Michael Vick on offense and stopping the run on defense.

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