January 26, 2014; Honolulu, HI, USA; Team Sanders running back Jamaal Charles (25) of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with receiver DeSean Jackson (10) of the Philadelphia Eagles and Jackson
In speculative piece about what teams could be in the hunt to trade for DeSean Jackson, Gregg Rosenthal of Around The League says the Chiefs are a team that makes sense.
"Salary cap room is the major problem here; otherwise this makes a lot of sense. Andy Reid knows Jackson’s strengths and weaknesses. Kansas City needs receivers after losing out on the Emmanuel Sanders sweepstakes. All of these potential landing spots are long shots, but this one is the most far-fetched."
This cannot be emphasized enough: Trading for Jackson is the longest of long shots. Not because of the salary cap, though the salary cap does add an extra hurdle. Philadelphia is likely going to want a high round draft pick or draft picks and they are going to want to them to be in this year’s draft – a draft some think is one of the deepest in decades. The Chiefs simply cannot provide what Philly is likely looking for.
Think about the San Francisco 49ers, for example. The 49ers have an extra second round pick from the Alex Smith trade and few holes on their roster to fill. If there is anything their team needs it is a speedy wide receiver who can compliment what they have on the outside with Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree. San Francisco doesn’t need the picks so giving up two second rounders or their first and a third round pick or some combination like that will not hurt much at all. KC simply cannot offer a package like that to the Eagles.
Additionally, trading for Jackson, 27, may not make much sense for the Chiefs. This 2014 draft is supposed to have one of the deepest crops of wide receivers in draft history. Why spend a lot of resources – cap space and multiple draft picks – when draft is so deep at wide receiver and the roster has so many other needs?
This isn’t to say if John Dorsey traded for Jackson the team would not instantly be better, because they would. Jackson obviously fits Andy Reid’s scheme and the Chiefs do need upgrades at wide receiver. The on-field fit is clear. However, things don’t work in a vacuum. Kansas City needs an on-field fit that will not cause them to potentially lose a player like Justin Houston in the future.
If the Chiefs can get Jackson without having to give up too many draft picks and they can get Jackson to agree to a contract that will not hurt their chances for retain their best talent then, yes, the Chiefs should look into making a deal. It would just seem those odds are “far-fetched” as of today.