Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rocky relationship between Winston and Jackson?

Hostility between quarterback and wide receiver? According to sources, Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ DeSean Jackson and Jameis Winston are not on good terms.

According to FanSided’s Matt Verderame, part of the turmoil in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ locker room in 2018 was caused by the relationship between starting quarterback Jameis Winston and wide receiver DeSean Jackson. Now, it is unclear whether or not Jackson will return in 2018, two years into his three-year deal.

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According to Verderame’s source, “Jackson, 32, struggled to work well with the embattled quarterback, something that could expedite his departure from the Buccaneers this offseason.” Verderame went on to say that the issues were mostly stemming from Jackson’s side, as his production dropped once Ryan Fitzpatrick was benched in favor of Winston.

While both sides are open to talking and a return is not out of the question, Jackson is set to make $10 million this offseason with no dead money attached to his deal. Verderame writes, “…the understanding is that Jackson is unwilling to take a pay cut to remain with the Buccaneers.”

With only about $17 million in cap space at this point and the franchise tag likely on Donovan Smith at $14 million, the Bucs are going to have to clear some cap space somehow, and with Jackson at odds with the quarterback that they have committed to in 2019, it seems like the Bucs might not have a very hard decision to make.

At the age of 32 and unable to replicate the numbers that he has produced before coming to Tampa Bay, Jackson looks like he could be at the top of the chopping block for Jason Licht and the Bucs front office. However, on Tuesday night, Winston took to Instagram Live where he was heard stating, “Yep, DJax is coming back.”

The 2018 season was one to forget for the Buccaneers, but in order to move into 2019, the team may have to make some personnel changes. With Jackson becoming outspokenly disgruntled and butting heads with their starting quarterback, Licht has a good place to start in any changes that will be made; that start is Jackson.