Veteran players the Eagles could trade away and trade for during the 2020 NFL Draft

While everyone is mainly focused on which prospects teams will be selecting in the 2020 NFL Draft, let’s not forget that there could be some veteran players on the move this weekend.

The Philadelphia Eagles currently own eight picks this year but Howie Roseman could be looking to add even more. Here are some players who might be leaving Philly within the next few days.

ALSHON JEFFERY

The Eagles’ current interest in trading Jeffery dates back to October.

Peter King recently indicated the 30-year-old wide receiver could be on the move this weekend:

Players likely to get traded during the draft, in order: Washington T Trent Williams, Jacksonville DE Yannick Ngakoue, New England G Joe Thuney, Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton, Jacksonville RB Leonard Fournette, Philadelphia WR Alshon Jeffery. [...] Maybe Eagles GM Howie Roseman will find a taker for Alshon Jeffery and his hefty salary (maybe by paying a good chunk of it), or maybe the Eagles have to play with Jeffery and his injury bug for one more season; when he’s on the field he’s effective if not a star.

The problem, as I wrote earlier this week, is that it’s hard to envision there’s a real market for him. Albert Breer recently wrote as much, too.

I think the Eagles would like to move Jeffery, yes. The problem is, his market value is probably close to nothing right now. He’s 30, coming off a serious foot injury, has grown a reputation for being difficult in both his NFL homes, failed to even get halfway to 1,000 yards last year, and is due eight figures in cash, with over $11 million guaranteed.

Could Philly move him? Sure, if they’re willing to take pennies on the dollar and maybe eat some salary. And maybe, with a young receiver or two likely incoming on draft weekend, they want to get rid of him that badly, where they’re OK doing it. Even then, I’d have trouble figuring a team that would really want him.

Adam Schefter cited the current economic climate as another potential factor working against a Jeffery trade.

The Eagles trading Jeffery wouldn’t be about getting some kind of great return for him. It would be about getting him out of the locker room in part because “many players and team officials believe him to be the source” of the Eagles’ anonymous leaks over the past couple seasons.

Trading Jeffery would only cause the Eagles to lose $599,500 in cap space as opposed to the $10,509,500 that would be lost by cutting him without a post-June 1 designation. The difference of ~$10 million is kinda significant.

You can’t totally rule out Roseman finding a way to get a deal done. To his credit, he did a great job shipping out DeMarco Murray, Byron Maxwell, and Kiko Alonso for value back in 2016. Maybe he can work some more magic in this instance. Maybe old buddy Joe Douglas could help out.

I’ll say there’s a 42% chance Jeffery is traded during the draft. It’s hard to guess what his value could be. A Day 3 pick, assuming the Eagles still pay some of his salary? Even if he’s not moved, I still have my doubts he’ll be on the team this year.

RASUL DOUGLAS

A report emerged last month stating that the Eagles are “shopping” Douglas.

BGN has previously suggested on numerous occasions that Douglas could be traded this offseason. Note that dealing him would save $2.1 million in cap space.

The 2017 third-round pick is entering the last year of his contract and it seems clear by now that the Eagles don’t view him as a long-term starter. They could value him as a backup but do you really need a backup corner accounting for the 16th highest cap number on the roster? Especially when you don’t really believe in the guy as a long-term piece? And he doesn’t offer position versatility?

I’ll say there’s a 69% chance that Douglas is traded this weekend. He’s not likely to return much value, though. Maybe the Eagles can package him and their very late third-round pick (No. 103) to move up a little bit higher in the round? That might be too ambitious. Maybe the same idea with one of their Day 3 picks instead?

SIDNEY JONES

With Douglas on the block, Jones could be safe. He’s younger than Douglas and he’s also only set to be a restricted free agent after this season whereas Douglas will be unrestricted.

The Eagles could save $1.3 million by trading Jones but they should probably pass on selling low on their 2017 second-round pick. Jones showed some potential late last season and he might be able to compete for a starting job opposite of Darius Slay in 2020.

I’ll say there’s an 18% chance Jones is traded. Not counting on it but it could happen if this regime has simply given up on him.

VETERANS THE EAGLES COULD TRADE FOR?

It’s worth considering that the Eagles might trade for a vet. They did ship a seventh-round pick out to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for Hassan Ridgeway last year, after all!

The aforementioned Yannick Ngakoue is a player that a lot of Eagles fans would love to see in midnight green. You’re probably going to have to keep dreaming, though. Schefter said it’s unlikely to happen. I just don’t see the Eagles giving up valuable assets and big money to get him when their cap situation is already looking tight (negative $25 million next year). They’re not in the spot to make that deal.

Marquise Goodwin could be a name to watch if the Eagles strike out on drafting a speedy receiver. The San Francisco 49ers have made it known he’s available.

Kenny Stills is looking like the odd man out with the Houston Texans trading for Brandin Cooks and signing Randall Cobb. There’s no need to rush to give up anything of value for him when Bill O’Brien, who is clueless, might just end up cutting him anyway.

If the Eagles trade for a vet, I think it’ll be more in the mold of the Ridgeway deal. That’s to say, acquiring a depth player at a low cost.