Perusing the top free agent wide receivers

While it has been reported that the Eagles will slap the franchise tag on DeSean Jackson, it is at least worth taking a look around the NFL for free agents.

ProFootballTalk.com has put out a list of the top 10 free agent wide receivers and Jackson is No. 8.

Even if the Eagles do franchise DeSean, they could still trade him, which might leave a gaping hole in the Eagles offense. Here are some guy who might be able to fill it:

The No. 1 guy on the list is Wes Welker but it's hard to envision him not re-signing with the Patriots.

No. 2 on the list is an interesting name: Mike Wallace. The problem with Wallace is that he is a restricted free agent and the Steelers likely won't let him walk, especially not after they said Hines Ward won't be back. It's a shame for the Eagles, too, because Wallace does a lot of the things Jackson does. He had 478 receiving yards on passes of 20 yards or more. And, he dropped just four passes all season.

Another interesting name on the list comes in at No. 5: Marques Colston. Colston is a big receiver who can do some damage in the red zone. He's not the big home run threat like Jackson or Wallace though. Colston averaged just 3.2 yards per catch but has 48 TDs in his first six seasons. Colston is also interesting because Robert Meachem is No. 10 on the list. The Saints have two free agent wideouts.

Jackson is eighth on the list but does hold a rather dubious honor. He is the only player of the 10 with a negative grade for 2011. PFF rates each player on a play-by-play basis. No doubt drops hindered Jackson's rating. He has 35 in the past four years but he's still on the list for the same reason the Eagles will likely franchise him: he can change a game with a big play at any time.