Eagles-Jets Trade Buzz Makes Perfect Sense
The Philadelphia Eagles are never afraid to bolster their roster and with the trade deadline fast approaching, now is the time to be on the lookout for more talent.
Philadelphia got Brandon Graham back this week and Jakorian Bennett also had his practice window open on Wednesday as he works his way back from the Injured Reserve. Both of these guys could be key contributors down the stretch. But, it's still looking around to see who else could be out there.
ESPN's Matt Bowen and Jeremy Fowler shared a column on Wednesday highlighting what they are hearing ahead of the trade deadline while also listing the top 25 players who could be moved with potential landing spots. For the Eagles, a team that stood out was the New York Jets as Fowler and Bowen called Philadelphia a fit for both edge Jermaine Johnson II and cornerback Michael Carter II.
"The buzz: The Jets are not desperate to trade Johnson; good edge rushers are hard to find, and his $13.4 million salary for 2026 (a fifth-year option) is reasonable," Fowler said of Johnson. "But my sense after asking around is that New York would be more willing to part with Johnson than Will McDonald IV if it made any move at the position. Macdonald is in the third year of his rookie deal, whereas Johnson is in his fourth. And Johnson has garnered a bit of interest thus far...Team fits: Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears."
Should the Eagles still look to make a move?
"The buzz: Among all of the Jets players implicated in trade rumors, Carter might have the best chance of actually getting dealt," Fowler said of Carter. "My understanding is there is interest in the slot corner. The Jets just picked up a corner in Jarvis Brownlee Jr., who has acquitted himself well while Carter has missed time in concussion protocol. Carter is 26 years old and could give a new team steady nickel presence. One obstacle to a trade is his $4 million injury guarantee that locks in on the fifth day of the 2026 league year. The new team must consider that...Team fits: Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons."
The Jets are the lone winless team in the NFL with two guys who realistically could help the Eagles' two biggest holes. Both are under contract at least next year as well, although there is an out in Carter's contract. Targeting the Jets, and these two could be a shortcut to helping to fix both of Philadelphia's biggest issues in the second half of the season with the trade deadline coming on November 4th.
If there ever was a team for the Eagles to target right now, it would be the winless Jets.
Vic Fangio Sends Honest Message on Brandon Graham’s Eagles Return
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio doesn’t know what to expect from the recently unretired Brandon Graham.
What kind of shape is he in? How will he be used? Those questions and more are still to be answered as Graham ramps back up after a brief time away from football.
“We’ll see,” Fangio said Tuesday. “We’ll see what kind of shape he’s in, what kind of retention he has from last year. Shape comes in two forms: one, just your conditioning, but in football shape to contact shape. So hopefully, the sooner the better.”
The Eagles announced earlier in the day that Graham, the longest-tenured player in franchise history, had agreed to a one-year deal to come out of retirement and play a 16th season with Philadelphia.
Why is Brandon Graham Coming Out of Retirement?
Graham returned from torn triceps muscle to play in Super Bowl LIX and helped the Eagles beat the Chiefs 40-22. It was supposed to be the final game of Graham’s career, but the 37-year-old recently had a change of heart and will return in hopes of providing a spark for Philadelphia’s struggling pass rush.
The defending champs came into the season with questions about edge rusher following the departures of Graham and Josh Sweat. Those were amplified when Nolan Smith Jr. landed on injured reserve last month with a triceps strain.
Hoping to address their need, the defending champs signed veteran defensive end Za’Darius Smith. But he played only five games with the team before retiring from the NFL earlier this month.
The Eagles lead the NFC East at 5-2 but rank 23rd in total defense (349.1 yards allowed per game) and are tied for the fourth-fewest sacks in the NFL (11).
Why is Brandon Graham’s Return Significant?
Graham is one of the most accomplished players in Eagles history. The 13th overall pick of the 2010 draft holds the franchise record for most regular-season games played (206) and is third in team history with 76.5 sacks. He was second-team All-Pro in 2016 and made his lone Pro Bowl in 2020.
His strip sack of Tom Brady in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LII helped the Eagles outlast the Patriots 41-33 for their first Super Bowl victory.
Graham initially retired in March, choosing to “go out on top” with the Lombardi Trophy in hand. But ever since, Fangio has been joking with him about coming back to play.
“All the way from the start I was teasing him not to retire. All the way back from last February to March,” Fangio said. “I’ve run into him; we’ve talked when he’s come by. I always tease him about it, try and light the fire.”
