NFL Trade Rumors: Eagles also targeted Robert Woods in LeSean McCoy-Kiko Alonso swap with Bills

The Eagles shocked the NFL earlier in March when the team traded LeSean McCoy to the Bills for Kiko Alonso. Believe it or not, the deal was almost potentially more shocking. According to ESPN's Sal Paolantonio via 97.5 The Fanatic, there was a chance the Eagles would have made the trade without getting Alonso back in return.

"The Eagles [asked Buffalo] for either Kiko Alonso or wide receiver Robert Woods, or both. So [Ed] Marynowitz hangs up the phone after asking for that. [Bills GM Doug] Whaley hangs up the phone and goes back to Rex Ryan and says, 'It's Alonso or Woods...for McCoy. And they said, 'We'll give them Alonso one-for-one. One-for-one swap. Called Marynowitz back, there is a text exchange. Good to go: Kiko Alonso for LeSean McCoy. That was it. It took 30 minutes to get rid of clearly one of the best players in team history."

It makes sense that Woods would have been targeted by the Eagles. The team still had Jeremy Maclin at the time but they knew they might lose him in free agency. Woods used to play at USC so he fits the PAC-12 bias that Chip Kelly has. But with only 105 receptions for 1,286 yards (12.2 average) and 8 touchdowns over two years, Woods alone would hardly be a thrilling return in exchange for Philadelphia's franchise leading rusher.

Giving up Woods wouldn't have made a lot of sense for Buffalo, either. As Bills fans point out, the team didn't have Percy Harvin in the fold yet and their wide receiving corps would have been very thin. While Alonso certainly flashed potential in 2013, the Bills defense still performed at a high level without him last season. The linebacker was more expendable, especially coming off a major injury.

McCoy for both Woods and Alonso would have been a pretty good deal for Philadelphia. McCoy for "only" Alonso figures to still be solid if Alonso can regain his play-making form as a rookie.

A lot of things can change in two years, but Woods is currently scheduled to be a free agent in 2017. If the Eagles still have a need at wide receiver, perhaps he could be a name to keep an eye on. Of course, it would be ideal if the Eagles were already set at that position by then.