Skip to main content
Advertising

Around the League

Presented By

What we learned on Day 8 of free agency

What would you give up for DeSean Jackson?

Free-Agent Tracker

NFL-131103-IA.jpg

Follow all the developments on the NFL's open market with our up-to-the-minute tracking of 2014's free agents. **More ...**

The Philadelphia Eagles are open to trading the playmaking wide receiver if the right offer comes their way. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport confirmed the Eagles are "listening" on Jackson, though Rapoport downplayed the idea that the San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots are legitimate landing spots.

Jackson's availability adds an interesting wrinkle to free agency as the market of impact players -- or perceived impact players -- dries up. Jackson represents instant adrenaline, a cure-all for teams unsatisfied with the dynamism of their attack.

But interested teams would be wise to wonder why Chip Kelly would be so open to parting ways with a chess piece who created mismatches for Philadelphia on a weekly basis. Jackson makes a lot of plays, but that's not all you get when you bring him into your building.

Here's what else we learned on Day 8 of free agency Tuesday:

  1. The Oakland Raiders might have finally found a left tackle. The team moved on from its Rodger Saffold fiasco by agreeing to terms with Donald Penn, the seven-year veteran who was released last week by the Buccaneers. NFL Media's Albert Breer reported that Penn will get the first crack at the left tackle job in Oakland.
  1. Defensive tackle Henry Melton has decided to sign with the Dallas Cowboys, a much-needed bit of good news in Jerrah World. If Melton can come back strong from surgery to repair a torn ACL, he represents a big upgrade in the middle of Dallas' D-line.
  1. Jared Allen's hard-luck March continues. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Allen (who wrapped his visit with the Cowboys on Tuesday) is now unlikely to sign with Dallas after the Melton deal. A source familiar with the situation told Rapoport there are other teams in the mix that are better fits.
  1. The Jets lost out on Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Rex Ryanis "pissed."Antonio Cromartie makes plenty of sense as a fallback option, but Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports New York is "not being very aggressive" in its pursuit of the veteran. If the Jets feel they must use their first-round pick on another cornerback, consider it a major failure of the John Idzik era.
  1. The Bengals announced that they declined to match the four-year, $13.6 million offer sheet wide receiver Andrew Hawkins received from the Browns. Hawkins should represent an upgrade over Davone Bess in Cleveland.
  1. Former New York GiantsSuper Bowl hero Mario Manningham is getting an encore at the Meadowlands. The veteran wide receiver signed a one-year deal with the team. The Giants must be comfortable with the state of Manningham's surgically repaired knee.
  1. The Bears did some housekeeping, bringing back veteran defensive end Israel Idonije after a one-year cameo in Detroit. The team also released wide receiver Earl Bennett, who fell off the radar in Chicago's passing attack last season.

The "Around The League Podcast" breaks down the latest free agency moves and highlights a few under-the-radar signings.

This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an issue.

Related Content