Trade Talk Update

No game action for the Eagles today due to the Thursday night win over the Giants, but that doesn’t mean Howie Roseman isn’t busy.

Howie is currently on the phone with half of the NFL, seeing who is available and at what price. He is going to focus on talent more than a specific position. The goal is to improve the Eagles, not just add a body who might help.

With that in mind, let’s talk about some names that are being mentioned as possible targets.

RB Le’Veon Bell – PIT

We’ve talked about this for a while now. The Eagles would love to add a talent like Bell, but cost is certainly an issue. It seems like he would cost at least a 2nd rounder, and that’s an issue since Bell is a free agent at the end of the year. You could let him walk in free agency and get a comp pick in 2020, but that would mean you couldn’t sign any big free agents. The Eagles like to be aggressive so dealing with a constraint like that wouldn’t be ideal.

Bell is supposedly going to report to the Steelers this week. Will his teammate welcome him back? Does the organization really want him? If the price tag lowered somehow, Howie might get real interested real fast.

RB LeSean McCoy – BUF

There are several angles to this. The first consideration is whether Shady would be worth bringing back. He turned 30 this summer and has taken quite a beating over the years. He’s got more than 2,600 touches in his NFL career. RBs tend to wear down and it does seem like that’s starting to happen. Shady averaged 4.0 yards per carry last year, a career low. This year he’s down to 3.8 ypc. Obviously circumstances play a part in that, but the eye test also says the same thing. Shady is still quick and elusive and a good player, but he’s not as consistently dynamic as he was in the past. He’s human.

McCoy would be interesting for the Eagles. He would be the most talented RB Doug Pederson has had to work with in the past three years. McCoy would add a big play element that the current group doesn’t really have. On the flip side, he’s not as physical as the current staff prefers. Ryan Mathews, LeGarrette Blount and Jay Ajayi were all 220 or more pounds and very physical runners. You give that up with Shady, but add his elusiveness and big play ability.

The Bills are leaking to the media that they will listen to offers, but need at least a 2nd rounder. That is clearly nuts. You would give up a 4th or 5th round pick for a 30-year old RB averaging 3.8 ypc. If they stick by that demand, you shake your head and pass.

What about the character question? Shady was less than perfect while with the Eagles. There were some serious allegations made against him by his ex-girlfriend this summer. Is this a guy you really want to bring into the locker room? The Eagles weren’t choirboys last year, but had no one with those type issues.

The Eagles are as thorough as any team in the league when it comes to background checks and taking character issues very seriously. They have taken some really good players off their draft board in recent years due to character concerns. Some were legal issues, others as simple as personality. The Eagles don’t want anyone who they don’t think will fit in. They don’t want anyone who is going to be a major distraction.

If the Eagles make a deal, they will have done their research and concluded that Shady can help this team on the field and not be an issue off it.

To a certain extent, the same questions apply to Bell due to his drug issues. He was suspended for multiple games in 2016 for failing at least his second drug test since entering the NFL. We can argue the merits of marijuana, but it is against the rules for now.

RB David Johnson – ARZ

The Cardinals should build their offense around Johnson, but they’ve used him awkwardly this season, making you wonder if they would be willing to deal him. Johnson is a gifted runner and receiver and would be an ideal addition. I’d certainly call about him, but wouldn’t expect the Cards to be receptive.

S Karl Joseph – OAK

The Raiders are off to a 1-5 start and things are getting ugly. Jon Gruden is reportedly shopping several players. Joseph has been hurt recently, but I’m not sure why he’s not part of the team’s long term plans. Joseph is a good hitter and tackler. He’s 25-years old and has 24 career starts. Joseph isn’t a big playmaker, but he could help a banged up secondary.

CB Patrick Peterson – ARZ

Peterson is one of the top cover corners in the league. I can only guess the Cardinals are open to shopping him because they are in rebuilding mode and he’s 28. Peterson would not be cheap so this move would be complicated. You would have to make sure Jim Schwartz and the defensive staff were all-in on adding him and knowing how to use him.

The Eagles might have to give up Jalen Mills or Ronald Darby (along with picks) to get Peterson, but adding a talent like him would help any secondary. He would give you a player to match up with the top receivers. Then the other DBs could cheat to the other side of the field.

Cost would be an issue, but this would interest the heck out of me.

Arizona Cardinals being eyed closely by other teams ahead of the deadline. Open to trade talks on Patrick Peterson: https://t.co/nUHr67mMA9

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) October 14, 2018

CB Gareon Conley – OAK

There are no rumors about Conley being shopped. That said, he did not play at all in today’s game. Instead, Gruden went with veteran Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Gruden going with a veteran like DRC on a bad team is so very Gruden.

The Eagles liked Conley quite a bit prior to the 2017 draft. He had the ability to play in the slot or out wide. If the Raiders are down on him, the Eagles might have interest. They could certainly use his versatility this season.

WR Amari Cooper – OAK

Jay Glazer reported that Cooper and Joseph were being shopped by the Raiders. Could it really be this simple.

After trading Joel Segal client Khalil Mack, the Raiders reportedly are shopping Joel Segal clients Amari Cooper and Karl Joseph https://t.co/H4kqCH9jW3

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) October 14, 2018

Cooper is young, productive and talented. He has some size at 6-1, 210. The Eagles like WRs who have size so he makes sense in that regard. The Eagles offense has picked up since the return of Alshon Jeffery, but the receiving corps could still use a boost.

Cooper did take a big hit to the head in today’s game and was being checked for a concussion.

*****

Here are some names that could make sense. This is pure speculation.

CB Richard Sherman

SF added the veteran CB with the expectation that they would compete this year. Then Jimmy G tore his ACL and things changed in a big way. You wonder if they might be open to dealing him. Sherman has a strong, forceful personality so this would have to be carefully checked out and planned. h/t to Iggles Nut for coming up with this idea.

S Landon Collins

The Giants are a bad team. Collins is in the final year of his deal. If the Giants have any hesitation about re-signing him, trading him could make some sense. Collins was great his first couple of seasons, but it doesn’t seem like he’s played to the same level the last couple of years. Still, he would be an interesting target for the Eagles.

S Tyrann Mathieu

I loved this idea when the Texans were losing to the Bills, but then Houston came back to win that game. If Houston started to have doubts about their season, dealing Mathieu would make some sense. He signed a one-year deal with them when a lot of other teams were dragging their feet when it came to safeties. Unfortunately, the Texans are now 3-3 and tied for the division lead. They would need to lose the next couple of games before considering a move like this. Doubtful, but worth Howie making a call.

DT Adam Gotsis

The Eagles liked Gotsis prior to the 2016 draft. Denver shocked some people by taking him in the 2nd round. Gotsis has slowly developed into a solid NFL player. I don’t know how the Broncos coaches feel about him at this point. With Denver sitting at 2-4 and looking up at the Chiefs and Chargers, they might be open to dealing him. Worth a call. Gotsis has played 3-4 DE and DT for Denver, but would be a DT for the Eagles.

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