Wide receiver DeSean Jackson, the Eagles' second of two second-round picks in April's NFL Draft, agreed to terms on a four-year deal Sunday, ensuring he will be under contract in time for training camp, which begins July 21 when rookies and selected veterans are scheduled to report.
The Eagles utilized the 49th overall selection on Jackson, who figures to contribute immediately as a return man and could factor into the mix as a slot receiver as a rookie. But he answers an immediate need for a playmaker on special teams, alleviating the stress that sometimes was handed to running back Brian Westbrook in high-pressure situations.
In three seasons at Cal, Jackson put together as many highlight tapes as he did touchdowns. Despite scoring 29 total touchdowns in his 36 career games, Jackson is most known for his jaw-dropping punt returns, of which he returned six for scores, two shy of the NCAA career record.
Still no slouch as a receiver, Jackson finished his career with 2,423 yards and 22 touchdowns, both third in Cal's history. In 2006, he topped the 1,000-yard plateau.
Also as a sophomore in 2006, Jackson was honored with the inaugural Randy Moss Award, given to the nation's top return man. In 2007, he added All-Pac 10 second-team honors to his growing list of acclaim. This season, he will grace the cover of EA Sports' NCAA Football 09, traditionally given to one of the previous season's most exciting college football players that have moved on to the NFL.
The work in training camp will be important to Jackson's progress, as he missed much of spring workouts with a hamstring injury. With Jackson in the fold, only one of the Eagles' 10 draft picks is without a contract - defensive tackle Trevor Laws, the Eagles' first pick, a second-round selection out of Notre Dame.
