In a week that has seen future Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss sign with the 49ers, and the uber-talented Brandon Marshall go to the Bears, the Bucs jumped in on the frenzy as well, signing free agent All-Pro wideout Vincent Jackson to five-year contract in an effort to bolster their offense.
Jackson originally entered the league in 2005 as a second-round pick (61st overall) by the San Diego Chargers, where he has spent the past seven seasons. Jackson has played in 92 games with 75 starts in his career, recording 272 receptions for 4,754 yards and 37 touchdowns.
With a career 17.5 yards per catch average in his career, the fifth-best in the NFL during that time, Jackson has recorded three 1,000-yard seasons in the past four years.
This past season, Jackson recorded his third 1,000-yard receiving season on his way to his second Pro Bowl selection. On the year, he started all 16 games and hauled in 60 receptions for 1,106 yards and nine touchdowns, the latter of which ranked sixth in the NFL. Jackson's yards per catch average of 18.4 was also the sixth-highest in the league.
A bit of a late bloomer, Jackson in time developed into a consistent big-play threat for Chargers' quarterback Phillip Rivers. He will now take his talents to Florida, where he should provide the Bucs with a big, physical target in the passing game, capable of regularly overpowering smaller defensive backs with his size and strength.
Jackson's breakout season came in 2008 when he caught 59 passes for 1,098 yards and seven touchdowns. His 18.6 yards per catch that season ranked fourth in the NFL, and first among players with at least 50 receptions.
By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald and Wire Reports
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