The Philadelphia Eagles find themselves in a tricky spot with their secondary. The departure of Sydney Brown to the Atlanta Falcons and Reed Blankenship's exit via free agency have left a noticeable gap in their defense.
While the draft offers several promising safeties, the Eagles might be better off capitalizing on their current window of opportunity by bringing in a seasoned veteran who can make an immediate impact. Enter the possibility of a trade with the Falcons.
Moe Moton from Bleacher Report suggests the Eagles consider trading for Falcons safety Jessie Bates III this offseason. Bates, at 29, has proven his mettle over three seasons in Atlanta, earning his first Pro Bowl nod in 2023 after a solid start to his career with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Currently, the Eagles are looking at Marcus Epps and Andrew Mukuba as their starting safeties for the next season. Adding Bates would be a significant upgrade, but it would likely cost GM Howie Roseman a Day 2 pick in the upcoming draft. While Roseman is also eyeing an edge rusher, he might find more value drafting one early rather than seeking a safety.
Bates is in the final year of his contract, and his hefty $24.8 million cap hit could pose a challenge for Philadelphia. A trade would likely require Bates to agree to a restructured deal to make it feasible for the Eagles.
As for the Falcons, they might not be in a rush to part ways with Bates. Despite a rebuilding phase, Atlanta finished last season strong with four straight wins and has added former Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa to their roster.
With new coach Kevin Stefanski at the helm, the Falcons have aspirations in the NFC South. Trading Bates would only make sense if the Eagles present an offer too good to refuse, likely involving draft picks that Roseman highly values.