NFL Trade Rumors: Adam Schefter on Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson, and Zach Ertz

NFL insider Adam Schefter mentioned three different Philadelphia Eagles players in a Sunday morning article featuring the latest buzz ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline. Here’s what Schefty had to say:

The Philadelphia Eagles were listening to offers on tight end Zach Ertz, but the star tight end is on injured reserve and now barred from being traded, according to new NFL rules. Philadelphia has a similar situation with injured wide receiver DeSean Jackson, but the Eagles would listen to any offers for wide receiver Alshon Jeffery.

Let’s stop down further on each player.

ALSHON JEFFERY

The Eagles have been trying to trade Jeffery since October 2019. It’s clear that teams haven’t been willing to take on his hefty salary, though.

One could surmise that the Eagles avoided putting Jeffery on the reserve/physically unable to perform list (PUP) ahead of the 2020 season in an effort to boost his trade value. That strategy hasn’t worked since we’re into Week 8 and Jeffery is still here and not playing. He somehow picked up a calf injury ahead of the Eagles’ Week 7 game despite the fact the team only held walkthroughs and not actual practices.

The Eagles don’t really seem all that interested in having Jeffery play for them. Maybe they’ll find a way to unload his salary and free up a roster spot by attaching a sweetener to the deal. If not, it’ll be interesting to see what becomes of him after Tuesday’s deadline. Might the Eagles just cut him at some point? Or will they introduce Jeffery back into the offense — the expense of a young receiver’s playing time — for the second half of the season only to inevitably move on from him after 2020?

ZACH ERTZ

Albert Breer previously reported the Eagles received calls about Ertz. Ed Kracz specifically noted that the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens were among teams reaching out to Philly.

As Schefter notes, though, the Eagles can’t trade Ertz now that’s on injured reserve. Pretty unfortunate timing. The Eagles could look to revisit trading Ertz in the offseason, especially if Dallas Goedert really shines during his absence. Richard Rodgers continuing to look solid also only makes Ertz more expendable in Philly.

DESEAN JACKSON

Schefter’s report marks the first time we’ve heard that the Eagles were open to trading Jackson. Such a notion hardly comes as a surprise since he’s about to turn 34 years old and the Eagles drafted his potential replacement in Jalen Reagor.

As is the case with Ertz, though, Jackson is now ineligible to be traded. The Eagles wouldn’t have gotten a whole lot for him even if he was healthy but it could’ve been better than nothing.

There’s still a chance that Jackson will return from IR later this season. But he’s unlikely to be on the team in 2021. The Eagles can cut or trade (likely the former) Jackson after this year to clear over $5.1 million in cap space.