Eagles Trade Proposal Lands 23-Sack Edge to Add to NFL’s Best Defense

The Miami Dolphins enter the season with just as many question marks as any team in the NFL. Unlike the Philadelphia Eagles, the defending Super Bowl champions, there is much more to worry about from the Dolphins’ perspective than most would expect. 

The Eagles enter the season against the Dallas Cowboys next Thursday night, looking to start the season strong in their pursuit of back-to-back titles.

But for the Dolphins and Eagles, there’s reason to believe that if Miami struggles a bit, it could help out Philadelphia. The Dolphins have multiple high-level players, but unfortunately, they haven’t been able to put it all together over the past few years. 

Could Jalen Phillips Help the Eagles?

There have been moments where the Dolphins have been very good, and others when they struggle. Some of that is due to injuries, especially Jaelan Phillips, but Phillips is one of the players who could help the Philadelphia Eagles.

In a recent trade idea from Sports Illustrated, that’s exactly what would happen.

“The Dolphins edge is in the final year of his rookie deal after Miami picked up the team option for this season after drafting him 18th overall in 2021. That makes this the final year of his deal. Perhaps the Dolphins would take something for him, especially since he hasn’t played much the past two years, answering the call in just 12 of a possible 34 games. Miami just signed Matthew Judon to a one-year deal so maybe they’d be willing to part with Phillips,” Ed Kracz wrote. 

“As for the compensation, it wouldn’t be as steep as what it would cost to get Walker, who had 6.5 sacks in eight games two years ago but only one in four last year. His cap charge is $13.2, which is high if he can’t stay healthy, but at least he comes off the books at the end of the season.”

Philadelphia Would Benefit from Jalen Phillips

Philips would be a perfect piece for the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense, arguably already the best unit in the league. He understands what it takes to play at the highest level, and outside of a few injuries that he’s dealt with throughout his long career in college and the NFL, there’s a strong argument to be made that he’s one of the top edge rushers in the league.

“We always say that we have to be the engine,” Phillips said, per the Palm Beach Post. “Just in terms of being that driving factor, obviously the edge-rushing position is a premium position in the league and so it’s true that if we can come out, have early production, be consistent and have production, that we can really change games.”

There are other factors the Eagles would have to consider with Phillips, including the contract that he’ll land. 

However, when speaking to reporters, including the Palm Beach Post, he didn’t sound too worried about it. Whether that changes once he plays a couple of games remains to be seen, but that’s promising news for the Eagles, at the very least.

“I think that that’s really kind of a fatal error to do in any capacity in any way, is looking too far forward into the future,” he said. “And so for me, I’m not thinking about the numbers. I’m not thinking about the contract.