Vincent Jackson was a few wrong turns from becoming the St. Louis Rams' knight in shining armor last year, and as the 2011 NFL Free Agents begin to negotiate with their potential suitors he remains an exciting option for the Rams—who, with NFL Draft Projections increasingly bearish on the wide receiver crop, find themselves desperately in need of someone who Sam Bradford can throw to more than five yards downfield.
↵After shaking the rust off and returning to the San Diego Chargers following a series of botched trade attempts, Jackson wasn't especially far removed from the Vincent Jackson of 2008 and 2009. In five games he caught 14 balls for 248 yards and three touchdowns. Remove his abbreviated return to football against the Kansas City Chiefs and it's hard to distinguish his 2010 numbers from anything else he's done since becoming a bona fide number one.
↵At 28—and with the mileage, for better or worse, of a 27-year-old—Jackson likely has several years left as a top receiver. The Chargers have talked about putting the franchise tag on him, but if he gets to free agency the Rams could make a major splash in a St. Louis sports scene currently paralyzed by Albert Pujols's cryptic contract goings-on.
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