After the Eagles dropped to 2-5 with a Monday night loss to the Cowboys, the conversation in Philadelphia turned quickly toward the trade deadline. If this season really is slipping away, the roster picture changes fast.
Several names could be in play, including Riq Woolen, Moro Ojomo and tight end Dallas Goedert. But none would create more noise than Saquon Barkley.
That’s the difficult part for the Eagles. Barkley arrived in Philadelphia in 2024 and helped deliver the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy by rushing for 2,000 yards.
Since that remarkable season, the ground game hasn’t looked the same. It dipped in 2025, and injuries have already complicated things this year.
Barkley came back from a hamstring injury on Monday and still produced 62 yards on seven carries, good for 8.9 yards per carry, before leaving with a back injury. That health issue would hang over any trade market. He’s under contract through the 2028 season, but if Philadelphia decides to move him, there are a handful of teams that fit.
The Giants have to be part of the conversation, even if it would be messy. Barkley spent six seasons in New York after the team took him No. 2 in the 2018 draft, and the fit on paper is obvious because the Giants still need help at running back. Their backs did rebound Sunday with 188 rushing yards against the Texans, but the position remains a clear area to upgrade.
The relationship, though, was not exactly smooth on the way out. Barkley grew frustrated during negotiations and said the process felt “a little disrespectful” before signing with the Eagles.
When he went back to MetLife Stadium, Giants fans booed him and burned his jersey. New York has since hired John Harbaugh as head coach, while Joe Schoen remains the general manager.
Philadelphia also may not want to send Barkley to a division rival.
Minnesota also makes sense. The Vikings have tried to shore up the run game, but they still have work to do.
They’re 28th in EPA per rush at -0.17 and 12th in rushing yards per game at 119.3. Their offense has pieces, but Barkley would add a different gear, especially with the passing game still finding its footing.
Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason have both dealt with injuries, which makes another runner even more appealing. The concern is obvious, though: Barkley has had his own injury issues, so counting on him every week would be a gamble.
Green Bay is another possible fit, even if the problems there run deeper than one player. The Packers are dead last in both EPA per rush at -0.29 and rushing yards per game at 59.9. Josh Jacobs returned after starting the season on the commissioner’s exempt list, but he didn’t swing much when Green Bay lost to the Lions, finishing with 36 yards on 11 carries and a costly dropped touchdown.
It’s fair to question how much any back can truly change that situation with the state of the offensive line. Barkley was less efficient when the Eagles’ line regressed in 2025, too. Still, he’d be a clear upgrade over what Green Bay has now and could raise the floor of the entire running game.
Cincinnati belongs on the list as well. When Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Joe Burrow are all healthy, the Bengals’ offense is dangerous.
Add Barkley to that mix and the rushing attack would get a real boost. Chase Brown has not taken the next step after his 2025 performance and had just 39 yards on 11 carries against Baltimore.
The Bengals also haven’t exactly made a habit of jumping into blockbuster deals, outside of the Dexter Lawrence II trade. Even so, this is the kind of move that would make sense for both sides, especially if Philadelphia prefers to send Barkley out of the conference.
Seattle rounds out the group, though it may be a harder deal to picture. The Seahawks used a first-round pick on Jadarian Price, and Zach Charbonnet is close to returning. They also just posted one of their best rushing efforts of the season, gaining 153 yards in a win over the Chiefs.
But Barkley is still worth considering if Seattle wants to keep building toward championship contention. The team added guard Quenton Nelson on Tuesday, and Barkley wouldn’t have to cost as much as Jonathan Taylor. That makes him a name to watch for GM John Schneider if the Seahawks decide to keep pushing for more in the run game.
In Other News...
Eagles Face A Bigger Week 7 Problem Than DeVonta Smith
DeVonta Smith is set to miss his third game of the season with a hamstring injury, leaving the Eagles to sort through another week without one of Jalen Hurts' most reliable targets. Philadelphia has enough wideout options to patch the hole in the passing game, with Makai Lemon, Darius Cooper, Elijah Moore and Marquise Brown all in line to help absorb the workload left behind by Smith and Dontayvion Wicks.
The bigger concern may be on defense, where Michael Carter II's absence carries more weight than the missing production at receiver. Carter is expected to sit again because of an abdominal injury, and the Eagles have not gotten the same level of coverage from the players filling in for him, a problem that becomes even more glaring with the Dallas Cowboys on deck and a secondary already under pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Pass Rusher Gets A Huge Cowboys Chance At The Perfect Time
Arnold Ebiketie has spent this season in a useful, if often overlooked, role as the Eagles fourth pass rusher, but the next stretch could put him in a much bigger spotlight. On a one-year deal worth $4.3 million, he has already found himself on the field far more than expected, logging 91% of the defensive snaps in Week 6 and positioning himself for even more responsibility with injuries thinning the edge-rushing group.
A possible start against Dallas would arrive at exactly the right time for a player with plenty to prove. Ebiketie has talked about keeping his focus on the field and using the rest of the season to strengthen his standing, and the opportunity matters because every rep now carries extra weight for what comes next. With the Cowboys looming and more snaps potentially waiting, he is suddenly in the kind of spot every pending free agent wants, even if the bigger picture is still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Jason Kelce Delivered A Very Philly Moment Eagles Fans Will Love
With the Eagles trying to steady themselves after four straight losses, a lot of attention has understandably been on the present tense of a season that has gone sideways fast. Nick Siriannis team heads into Week 7 at 2-4 with Tanner McKee at quarterback, and the backdrop has only gotten trickier with injuries to key players like Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley, plus growing criticism of the offenses cautious approach under Sean Mannion.
In the middle of all that, Jason Kelce was back in the spotlight in a way only Philadelphia can appreciate. The former Eagles center got a memorable welcome during a recent game, the kind of loud, over-the-top reception that reminds you how deeply he still resonates with this city and its fans. For a team searching for any spark, it was a very Philly moment, and one that likely felt a little more uplifting than anything happening on the field right now. [Read more 🡒]