The Oakland Raiders can use some more speed to open up things for Amari Cooper. But is it too late to sign a guy like DeSean Jackson?
Deceased Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis looked for the next Cliff Branch for decades. But when DeSean Jackson came up in 2008, Davis didn’t have a second-round pick. He traded that pick for CB DeAngelo Hall, who didn’t even make it through one year with the Raiders.
So Jackson went to the Philadelphia Eagles, who picked later on in that second round. And he became every bit of the next Branch but it wasn’t with the Raiders. Then HC Chip Kelly went to Philly and inexplicably cut Jackson in the offseason before the 2014 season.
And Jackson was interested in the Raiders as the the L.A. native grew up an L.A. Raiders fan. But DeAngelo Hall, who went to the Redskins after the Raiders cut him, intercepted Jackson. He met with Jackson and told him about the disfunction of the Raiders franchise.
He didn’t mention how badly he played when he was there but I digress. Hall brought in then quarterback Robert Griffin III and others and they didn’t let Jackson leave without signing. Now, Jackson is set to be a free agent again as the Redskins are ready to let him walk.
He’s 30 years old now but he can still blow past CBs as if they’re just standing there. And he’s coming off a 1,000-yard season in which he averaged 18 yard per catch. So Jackson figures to be a hot commodity on the free agent market this offseason.
Meanwhile, no one can speak to the disfunction of the Raiders organization anymore. At least when it comes to the football part of things they can’t. GM Reggie McKenzie and HC Jack Del Rio have established their program and there’s a big-armed QB named Derek Carr there.
That brings me to two questions.
Do you think that Jackson would have interest in the Raiders again?
And if he does, should the Raiders jump at the opportunity?
Slot receiver Seth Roberts hasn’t been sure handed!
More from With the First Pick
This article originally appeared on 
