The Eagles need to make trade to solve huge problem on defense. Here are six names who make sense.
Desperate for help, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio should ask general manager Howie Roseman to trade for an edge rusher soon.
On Monday morning, Philadelphia’s struggling pass rush became thinner when veteran Za’Darius Smith retired from the NFL after 11 seasons.
After Week 1, the Eagles signed Smith to improve their edge rush depth, but the three-time Pro Bowler only finished with 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks in five games.
Smith’s departure will make the pass rush worse. Outside of Smith and Patrick Johnson, no other Eagles edge rusher has recorded a sack this season.
With the trade deadline approaching on Nov. 4, Roseman could acquire a top-tier pass rusher.
Here are some potential options who could help fix the Eagles’ defense:
Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson
Playing on the final year of a reworked deal (one-year, $30 million), Hendrickson could be added to Philadelphia’s roster as a one-year rental.
Giving up significant draft assets and a young player (the likely trade price for the Bengals) for one year of Hendrickson could hurt the Eagles in the long run, but an all-in move could stop their season from going off the rails.
In the previous four years, Hendrickson made four Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team in 2024, amassing 57 sacks during that span, including 17.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons.
Hendrickson is on pace again to finish with double-digit sacks, racking up four in six games this season. On the Eagles, he could form one of the league’s best defensive line tandems with All-Pro defensive tackle Jalen Carter. He would take over as their No. 1 edge rusher and bump the other pass rushers into lesser roles.
An elite pass rusher would make the NFL’s 20th-ranked defense much better, especially in the secondary because they would not have to cover as much.
Jets edge rusher Jermaine Johnson
Hendrickson would make the biggest impact for the Eagles, but he is not the most realistic option of the potential trade candidates.
Johnson is not a bad alternative.
Before tearing his Achilles in Week 2 last season, he was an ascending star for New York’s defense. The 26-year-old finished with 10 sacks in his first two seasons (2023-2024), earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2023 after getting 7.5.
Last week, Johnson was a bright spot in the Jets’ loss to the Denver Broncos, amassing five tackles and one sack.
The 0-6 Jets could trade some of their best players as they rebuild. According to SNY’s Connor Hughes, Johnson’s name has come up for several teams in need of edge help in trade discussions. It would take “a lot” for the Jets to part with Johnson, a team involved in those conversations told Hughes.
Shortly after that report came out Monday, Johnson posted an emoji face with the eyebrow raised to his X account.
Dolphins pass rushers Jaelen Phillips and Bradley Chubb
Phillips and Chubb played under Fangio in 2023 for Miami, and Chubb played three seasons (2019-2021) for him in Denver as well. Having a basic understanding of his system from previous destinations, both players could start right away.
Chubb has suffered three season-ending injuries since his rookie season in 2018, and Phillips ended consecutive seasons (2023-2024) on injured reserve for Achilles and ACL tears.
Due to injury concerns, the price of Chubb and Phillips might be cheaper than other trade candidates.
Chubb is the better option of the two. The two-time Pro Bowler has finished with four sacks this season and has 43.5 career sacks. He was also tied for the most fumbles forced (6) in 2023.
Chubb’s contract runs through the 2027 season, but has no guarantees after this year. The Eagles could release Chubb or restructure his deal in the offseason to bring him back for another season.
Saints edge rushers Carl Granderson and Chase Young
Granderson and Young do not offer as much upside as the aforementioned pass rushers, but they would improve the Eagles’ depth. The Eagles could trade for two pass rushers — one high-end starter and a good rotational piece.
Granderson is trending toward a career season, finishing with 4.5 sacks through the first six weeks. He had a career-high 8.5 in 2023.
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Category: General Sports
