DeSean Jackson Needs Structure, Ritalin

The Eagles had to be pleased to find wide receiver DeSean Jackson still on the board midway through the second round of the NFL Draft. The team has been searching for a big-play wideout since Freddie Mitchell was unceremoniously released four years ago.

In the months leading up to the draft, Jackson was considered a late first-rounder, but was the sixth wideout selected. Two reasons his stock may have dropped: he's listed as 6-0, 178 (both measures sound generous), which immediately raised concerns about his durability. The other, perhaps bigger, worry: his lack of maturity.

Yahoo.com's Jason Cole, via The 700 Level, writes that maybe scouts were onto something:

The problem is that Jackson has this tendency to act like a kid who thinks it's cool to sit in the back of class and stare at the ceiling tiles with a disaffected attitude. During every individual drill, Jackson was the last in line to do the exercise. When wide receivers coach David Culley stopped to talk to the group, Jackson was the first (and often the only) one to take off his helmet. He looked off in every direction except directly at Culley.

About the only time Jackson seemed to pay full attention was when Reid was observing up close. In the NFL, you have to work harder than just when the big boss is looking.

One solution is to have Reid always observing the wideouts. Another less drastic option: have a veteran explain to Jackson that this isn't summer camp, but, you know, a job. And not one of those jobs where you get to crack jokes and stare off into space (those gigs are hard to come by, and once the position is filled, it's impossible to get fired).

It's early in the offseason, so there's plenty of time for Jackson to get focused. But the fact that he's already goofing off is sorta troubling, particularly since the Eagles really could use him next season. Thankfully, there's always Hank Baskett.