The Eagles came into this season with high expectations following their offseason moves.
Sitting at 3-2, and with some of those offseason additions either out for the season or "week-to-week", it's safe to say that those expectations aren't being met.
There are a few areas on the roster that need reinforcing if the Eagles expect to win the division and/or make the playoffs. Thankfully, there are some teams already out of contention that could look to sell off a few pieces as they look toward the future.
New York Jets
Howie just got a good look at what the Jets have to offer during the Eagles' 31-6 beat down of the Jets on Sunday. Despite their 0-4 record, the Jets do have some nice pieces that can fit into the Eagles' puzzle:
Robby Anderson (wide receiver): Howie tried to trade for Anderson last year, but settled with Golden Tate. Anderson was designated with a second-round restricted free agent tender during the offseason, and he signed that tender in March. A fourth year receiver out of Temple, Anderson would surely love to play in Philadelphia again and his ability to stretch the field would be a welcome addition on a team sorely missing the same ability from DeSean Jackson. Once Jackson is back, a trio of Jeffery, Jackson, and Anderson would give opposing defensive backs headaches.
Potential compensation: third round pick
Leonard Williams (defensive line): Entering the season, only two other defensive linemen have had more run stops than Williams since he came into the league in 2015. His pass rush capabilities are improving as the years go on, and that's including a seven sack season in 2016. If he can hone in on those skills, he can be an elite lineman. However, his bread and butter is nose tackle, not defensive end. In the game against the Eagles, Williams lined up at defensive end and had zero sacks, hits, hurries, and one tackle. Put him on the Eagles, move him inside next to Fletcher Cox, and watch him dominate.
Potential compensation: mid-round pick
Trumaine Johnson (cornerback): Just kidding.
Potential compensation: The Jets may send a first with Johnson just so a team takes him and his contract off their hands.
Miami Dolphins
The tanking is real and it's spectacular in Miami. As they look to stockpile draft picks, they might as well send some productive players to Philly:
Xavien Howard (cornerback): My case for Howard can be found here. But long story short, he is coming off a 2018 season where he had seven interceptions. While he has not been as good this year, allowing a 135.4 passer rating when targeted, he'd give the Eagles the talent and contract length (signed through 2024) they've been looking for.
Potential compensation: second round pick + late round conditional pick
Devante Parker (wide receiver): Yet another receiver on the list (won't be the last) since the Eagles need better production from their receiving corps. Out of the 27 targets on Sunday, Ertz and Jeffery had 15 of them. If defenses know that Wentz will only target Jeffery and Ertz, they're going to lock in on them.
Wentz needs a true number two receiver until Jackson is healthy, and Parker would be just that. A popular trade target for the Eagles among fans in 2018, Parker could finally land on the Eagles this season. He only has ten receptions on the year, but that comes with 201 yards. He also only has one drop this year. With the Eagles' receivers leading the league in dropped passes, Parker's sure-handedness would be welcome with open arms (but not dropped).
Potential compensation: mid-round pick
Cincinnati Bengals
The 0-5 Bengals are in a free fall yet again. They are three games back of the division leading Ravens, and have to face them after their bye this week. It's time the Bengals blow up the roster and give new head coach Zac Taylor draft picks to mold the team to his liking. Luckily for them, there are a few players that the Eagles would be interested in:
William Jackson III (cornerback): Another cornerback that I made the case for, Jackson is a young corner that would immediately improve the Eagles' secondary. He is in the third year of his rookie deal, with a fifth year option available, and has already established himself as one of the better corners in the league. He's only allowing a 53.3% completion rate when targeted and quarterbacks have an average 76.8 passer rating when targeting Jackson. If the other top corners become unavailable, Jackson should be priority for Howie.
Potential compensation: third round pick that could become a second
Geno Atkins (defensive tackle):If Howie really wants to make a splash, he'll pair Geno Atkins with Fletcher Cox. A seven time Pro Bowler and two time First team All-Pro, Atkins has 72 sacks through his ten year career. The big turn off here is his contract. He signed a massive extension in 2018 with the Bengals and is signed through 2022. The Eagles will be getting Malik Jackson back next season, so could Howie justify having three high priced defensive tackles? Atkins' cap numbers in the next four years (including this year) are $14.6 million, $14.2 million, $14.8 million, and $16 million. That's a hefty cap number on a team with some extensions looming.
Potential compensation: second round pick + mid-round pick
A.J. Green (wide receiver):If Howie wants to make an affordable splash, then Green is the move to make. He has not played a game yet this season due to surgery in late July to repair torn ligaments in his ankle. Last season was the first season in Green's eight year career that he did not make a Pro Bowl. If Green is deemed healthy soon, Green's ninth season could be in midnight green. He is also a free agent after this season, so Green's cap number ($15.17 million) would be off at the end of the season.
Potential compensation: this one is tricky because there's talk around the league that if Green shows that he's healthy before the trade deadline, then the Bengals can fetch a first round pick. If he is indeed healthy, then I flip-fop on my "no first round pick" take on the latest Flippin' The Birds podcast episode and fully support a first round pick trade.
Check out a few more teams that could be trade partners on the next page!
Mandatory Photo Credit: AP Photo/Adam Hunger
Denver Broncos
Sure the Broncos won on Sunday to bring their record to 1-4, but they have a long way to go to compete with the 4-1 Chiefs. It's time for John Elway to give up on Joe Flacco and give the keys to Drew Lock. The Eagles will happily give them draft picks to help build their future for one or more of the following players:
Chris Harris Jr. (cornerback): Harris is yet another corner that I highlighted in the previously linked article, so you know my affinity for him. Harris' former defensive backs coach is currently the DB coach for the Eagles, Cory Undlin, and he had huge success under him. A pairing of Harris and the Eagles makes perfect sense, and it seems as though Harris is done with the Broncos after this season. So why not get compensation for him? I'll just leave this tweet here:
https://twitter.com/ProFootballTalk/status/1178723677279588352?s=20
Potential compensation: second round pick
Emmanuel Sanders (wide receiver): Another receiver that's a free agent at the end of the season, Sanders would provide field stretching capabilities that the Eagles are currently lacking. Never averaging less than 11 yards a catch in his career, Sanders has zero drops this season. Zero. That alone should make him attractive to the Eagles. A trio of Jeffery, Jackson, and Sanders would be very hard to defend in the playoffs.
Potential compensation: mid-round conditional pick
Von Miller (linebacker/edge rusher/anything he wants): Yes please.
Potential compensation: If Miller is indeed on the trade block, then Howie needs to offer two firsts, and a couple of mid-round picks for Miller. Imagine him in the same defense as Fletcher Cox?
Jacksonville Jaguars
We finally reach the pinnacle of trade rumors. This team has been mentioned in many rumors over the past few weeks, all centered around one player. Not sure who that player is? First, let's get you out from under that rock.
The Jaguars are currently 2-3 and only one game back from first place. However, their schedule does not get much easier from now until the end of the season. They come back from the bye week on the 13th to face the Saints before two very winnable games against the Bengals and Jets. Then it's three straight division games, that could put this team away. If the Jaguars really want to build for the future, it's time to part ways with some players. The Eagles have apparently called for one, but there's another they should be enamored with:
Jalen Ramsey (cornerback): The case has been made, over and over again. Ramsey needs to be on the Eagles. Plain and simple. The previously linked article tells you all you need to know. Reports have surfaced that owner Shahid Khan won't even trade Ramsey for five first round picks. That is foolish and is not what's best for the team. Ramsey has expressed his desire to be traded and it doesn't look like anything is changing that.
Potential compensation: two first round picks + a conditional fourth that can turn into a third
Keelan Cole (wide receiver): The one receiver who should be atop Howie's wish list is Keelan Cole. Active for all five games this season, Cole caught his first pass on his first target two weeks ago against the Broncos. You read that right, it took four games for Cole to get targeted in the passing game. He still only has that one reception, which went for 19 yards.
Clearly out of favor with the current coaching staff and quarterback, Cole can help the Eagles' passing attack immensely. Coming into this season, Cole recorded a passing grade of 91.1 on targets over 10 yards, 35th among 98 qualifying receivers according to ProFootballFocus. The Eagles need a receiver to target more than ten yards down the field. A student of the game (see tweet below), Cole does everything he can to improve his game and being in a room with Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson could unlock his potential. A change of scenery could pay huge dividends for Cole and the team that gets him, let's hope it's the Eagles.
https://twitter.com/DanHellie/status/1026928291075293184?s=20
Potential compensation: mid to late round pick
San Francisco 49ers
The only team on this list that has a winning record, and the only team without a loss, the 49ers do have some players that aren't getting playing time who would do well on the Eagles:
Solomon Thomas (defensive end):
17%, 48%, 21%, 24%. Those are the percentage of defensive snaps Thomas has played through the first four games of the 49ers season. The third overall pick of the 2017 draft, Thomas has not come close to living up to his draft position. He has five sacks in three seasons and 79 tackles. He's had three defensive line coaches in his three years, but none can tap the potential of Thomas like Phillip Daniels can (some bias included). Thomas would add talent to a defensive end group needing a jolt, and he could be a integral part of the defensive line for years to come.
Potential compensation: mid-round pick
Jeff Wilson Jr. (running back)
Inactive, 21% of the snaps and two touchdowns, 27% of the snaps and two touchdowns, inactive. This has been the first four game stat line for Jeff Wilson Jr. There has been talk that Wilson may get waived, but that would most likely prevent the Eagles from landing him due to other RB needy teams having higher priority on waivers. Sproles is "week to week" with a quad injury, and Clement is underwhelming on offense and special teams, so the Eagles could look to get Wilson for a very late round pick and deploy him as their third/fourth running back on offense.
Potential compensation: sixth or seventh round pick
What say you, Eagles fans? Anyone I failed to mention? Anyone here your primary target? Let us know in the comments and make sure to follow @Infante54 and @FlippinBirdsPod for some Eagles content!
Mandatory Photo Credit: AP Photo/Adam Hunger
