The Giants won’t be getting away from DeSean Jackson after all.
And the Jets won’t be getting Jackson, period.
The former Eagles wide receiver wasn’t a free agent for very long, signing with the NFC East rival Redskins late Tuesday night — just four days after being cut loose by Philadelphia amid a report linking him to a Los Angeles street gang.
Jackson, who was released despite catching 82 passes for 1,332 yards and nine touchdowns last season, agreed to a three-year, $24 million deal ($16 million guaranteed) with Washington after making the Redskins the first team he visited after being cut.
The 49ers, Raiders and Browns reportedly were also in the hunt for Jackson, but the speedy wideout never gave them a chance to make an in-person offer.
Jets owner Woody Johnson had mentioned Jackson by name at last week’s NFL owners meetings in Orlando as a player the team was interested in acquiring, but the team reportedly never made contact with Jackson’s agent after he was released.
The Redskins were believed to have had the inside track ever since a photo was released on Twitter over the weekend of Jackson hanging out at a D.C. club with Washington players Pierre Garcon and DeAngelo Hall and rap star Wale.
Jackson will combine with Garcon to give Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III one of the most potent receiving tandems in the league.
Jackson also will no doubt continue to terrorize the Giants, against whom he has posted better career numbers than any other opponent. Jackson has 50 catches for 831 yards and four TDs all-time against the Giants, and his two punt returns for scores are also a personal best.
Jackson, of course, always will be infamous with Giants fans after his 65-yard punt return with no time remaining at MetLife Stadium in December 2010 gave the Eagles a 38-31 comeback win and all but knocked the Giants out of the playoffs.