Eagles sign Jackson to 5-year deal

The Eagles today announced they have agreed to terms with WR DeSean Jackson on a five-year contract that runs through the 2016 season. Jackson had been designated as the team’s franchise player earlier this month.

“We are thrilled to be able to keep one of the NFL’s top playmakers in Philadelphia,” said Eagles head coach Andy Reid. “DeSean is a game breaker, he has the speed and ability to score from anywhere on the field, and he has proven himself to be a big threat for our offense. Signing our own players was a big priority for us this offseason and DeSean was certainly high on our list. We are very excited about his future as an Eagle.”

One of the league’s most dynamic playmakers, Jackson has racked up 229 receptions for 4,085 yards and 21 touchdowns during his four-year career in Philadelphia. He has also contributed three rushing scores and a team record four punt return touchdowns as an Eagle, while earning a Pro Bowl berth following the 2009 and 2010 seasons. In fact, he became the first player in league history to garner a Pro Bowl selection at two different positions in the same season (2009 – wide receiver, punt returner).

The team’s 2nd round draft pick in 2008, Jackson is averaging 45.4 yards per score on 30 career touchdowns (including playoffs). 22 of those scores have covered 30-plus yards and 15 have covered 50-plus yards. Since entering the league, he ranks second in the NFL with 17.8 yards per catch among all players with 200+ receptions.

Jackson is one of five players in NFL history to post 900-or-more yards in each of his four campaigns and has the most receiving yards ever by any Eagle after his first four seasons in Philadelphia. He has eclipsed 150 receiving yards four times, trailing only Tommy McDonald (5) for the team record. Since Jackson joined the Eagles in 2008, the offense has set the franchise’s top three scoring outputs (439 points in 2010; 429 in 2009; 416 in 2008) and the top two yardage outputs (6,386 in 2011 and 6,230 in 2010).