Philadelphia Eagles News & Rumors

Trade Rumors: Chiefs, Cooper, Browns, Jefferson, Bills, Eagles

Reminding of the 2010s Patriots, the Chiefs have continued to pile up wins lacking in style points. They are the NFL’s lone unbeaten, though the two-time reigning Super Bowl champs’ plus-43 point differential — thanks to four one-score wins — is tied for seventh in the NFL. Kansas City has lost Rashee Rice for the season, and Marquise Brown is out for at least the full regular season. The team also lost JuJu Smith-Schuster on Sunday; the recently re-signed veteran aggravated a hamstring injury and will miss at least Week 8, Andy Reid said.

While the Chiefs do have an all-time great at tight end in Travis Kelce, albeit a 35-year-old version of the TE/podcast host/actor, they have not seen first-rounder Xavier Worthy develop into a consistent option. The team has used Mecole Hardman more, with Justin Watson and Skyy Moore reprised their 2023 roles as regulars Sunday due to the injuries. Although Kansas City keeps getting by — thanks largely to a stout defense — SI.com’s Albert Breer points to the team still being interested in adding a wideout.

The Chiefs have been linked to DeAndre Hopkins and Christian Kirk recently but have not made a move. It will be interesting to see if an AFC team would be willing to help them construct a better threepeat bid. NFCer Cooper Kupp, however, is available — albeit for a second-round pick. With the deadline moved back a week (to Nov. 5) this year, here is more from the trade market:

  • Amari Cooper relocated to Buffalo last week, with the Browns — after having not extended the reliable veteran this offseason — dealing him to the Bills in a pick-swap trade headlined by a 2025 third-rounder. The Browns were planning to hang onto Cooper until closer to the deadline, according to cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. In addition to Buffalo, two other teams were in on the former top-five pick, per Cabot, who adds the other suitors did not match the Bills’ aggression. Cooper did not expect to be dealt, and the Browns did not anticipate the Bills showing such strong interest. The 30-year-old pass catcher caught four passes for 66 yards and a touchdown in his Bills debut.
  • The Bills are not shutting the door on making another move to bolster their enduring Super Bowl quest. Bills GM Brandon Beane said during a Pat McAfee Show interview that Josh Allen‘s presence, despite the team’s cost-cutting moves this offseason, continues to keep the club “all in” toward a Super Bowl push. The eighth-year GM is open to more deals, though The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia indicates a lower-profile trade — potentially for a backup offensive lineman — could be the Cooper encore. Beane added the Browns showing cold feet on Cooper would have prompted the team to keep looking at receiver. Cooper’s presence rounds out Buffalo’s receiving corps, which has seen improvement from Khalil Shakir and some recent growth from rookie Keon Coleman.
  • Another Browns player drawing trade interest: veteran D-lineman Quinton Jefferson. Teams have asked about the recent free agent signing, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes. A productive but nomadic player, Jefferson has played for five teams over the past five years. The former Seahawks draftee has operated as a Browns backup, playing in five games and registering one sack. The Browns used void years to drop Jefferson’s cap hit to $1.2MM (on a one-year, $4MM deal), giving an acquiring team a minimal prorated sum to take on in the event of a trade. The Browns should be expected to move other pieces not essential to their 2025-and-beyond plans, but Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward are viewed as off the table.
  • The Eagles received a bounce-back effort from their pass rush Sunday, preying on Andrew Thomas‘ absence to sack Giants quarterbacks eight times. Jalen Carter and off-ball linebacker Nakobe Dean led the way with two apiece. Defensive ends accounted for the other four, but the edge group has started slowly. Big-ticket FA signing Bryce Huff has 1.5 sacks and just three QB hits in six games. Going into Week 7, Breer added the Eagles — rarely shy about trade talks under Howie Roseman — may be a team to monitor regarding a pass-rushing addition.

Eagles To Release WR Parris Campbell

Parris Campbell‘s time with the Eagles has proven to be short-lived. The veteran receiver is being released, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.

Campbell had a forgettable one-year stint with the Giants last year, and he made an intra-NFC East move to Philadelphia in the hopes of landing a depth role. That effort proved unsuccessful, though, and he was let go ahead of roster cutdowns. The 27-year-old did not originally intend to remain with the Eagles, but he had a change of heart and signed to the practice squad.

In the end, Campbell wound up making four appearances with Philadelphia. He recorded six catches and one touchdown across a two-game span, but with the team in a better spot health-wise at the receiver spot, he has fallen back down the pecking order. Both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are back in the fold, and they will of course account for a heavy target share moving forward. Campbell could once again find himself on the taxi squad, but otherwise he will need to find a new opportunity.

The former Colts second-round pick saw injuries plague him in Indianapolis, but after a productive contract year — one largely obscured during the AFC South team’s Jeff Saturday-led season — he has shaken the injury trouble. Though, both the teams who took fliers on Campbell over the past two years have not seen much despite the Ohio State alum staying healthy. Campbell caught just 20 passes for 104 yards with the Giants last season, finishing the year as a healthy scratch. In Philly this season, Campbell has turned his six receptions into just 30 yards.

Campbell’s 2022 season (63 catches, 623 yards) marked his only time beyond 150 yards in a single campaign, but it has proven to be an outlier for the slot player. While it would surprise if no team gave Campbell an opportunity — barring another return to Philly’s P-squad — the sixth-year vet is trending in the wrong direction.

Jahan Dotson and sixth-round rookie Johnny Wilson round out the Eagles’ depth chart. With Campbell again being cut, the team — with only four WRs left on its 53-man roster — will need to make a move soon to add another backup piece.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/21/24

Today’s practice squad moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Indianapolis Colts

Minnesota Vikings

Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles’ James Bradberry Making Progress In Rehab, Unsure Of Role When Healthy

James Bradberry has yet to make his season debut, one which will double as his first action since transitioning from corner to safety. The veteran is moving closer to full health, though.

“I would hope to eventually come back,” Bradberry said (via Olivia Reiner of the Philadelphia Inquirer). “I don’t really know the timeframe right now. It’s a day-by-day process. But it’s definitely getting better week by week.”

Bradberry was mentioned in trade talk leading up to the roster cutdown deadline, but he survived cuts at the end of August. Not long after, however, he was moved to injured reserve upon suffering a leg injury which did not require surgery. The rehab process was expected to take several weeks, and it remains to be seen when Philadelphia will open his 21-day return window.

Whenever Bradberry is back in the fold, he will join an Eagles secondary which added considerably at the cornerback spot during the draft. The team’s first-round pick, Quinyon Mitchellhas served as a full-time starter on the perimeter opposite Darius Slay. Second-round rookie Cooper DeJean, meanwhile, has ascended to the top spot on the depth chart for slot corners. At safety, the activation of Sydney Brown in time for yesterday’s win gave the Eagles another healthy option on the backend.

When asked about what his on-field role will be once he is activated, Bradberry admitted is unsure at this point. The 31-year-old has started each of his 37 combined regular and postseason games with the Eagles over the past two years, but a reduction in workload is expected by all parties moving forward with the team transitioning to younger defensive backs. Bradberry is under contract through 2025, and he is set to carry a $7.82MM cap hit next year.

With none of his 2025 base salary guaranteed, Bradberry could again find himself as a cut or trade candidate next offseason. His value to Philadelphia will depend on his performance once he is brought onto the active roster, something which could take place soon. Bradberry will account for one of the Eagles’ six remaining in-season activations.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/19/24

Today’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad callups:

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Autry was hit with a six-game PED suspension in July, leaving the Texans without a key figure along the defensive line. The free agent pickup could have suited up by means of Houston using his one-week roster exemption; instead, he has been activated in time for Week 7. Autry, 34, posted a career-high 11 sacks last season and he will look to make an immediate impact during his Texans debut. Especially with Mario Edwards having been issued a four-game suspension of his own earlier this week, he should have a notable role right away.

Eagles Place LT Jordan Mailata On IR

When it was first learned Jordan Mailata was set to miss time, it was unknown if he would require a stint on injured reserve. The Eagles’ longtime left tackle will indeed be sidelined for an extended period.

Mailata – who is dealing with a hamstring injury – was placed on IR Friday, per a team announcement. As a result of the move, he will miss at least the next four games. An absence of some length was already expected, but today’s news confirms Philadelphia will be notably shorthanded up front during the middle of the campaign.

The former seventh-rounder missed only one game across the past two seasons, and his durability no doubt played a role in his ability to land another Eagles extension this offseason. The sides agreed to a three-year, $66MM deal which places him sixth amongst left tackles in terms of annual average value. That commitment demonstrates Mailata’s importance to Philadelphia’s offense, and his absence will be acutely felt.

Fred Johnson could step into the left tackle role on a more permanent basis moving forward after he did so in Week 6 following Mailata’s exit. The 27-year-old has 50 starts and nine appearances to his name, nowhere near the first-team experience the blocker he is replacing has. Johnson played a full campaign with the Eagles last season, but he logged only 35 offensive snaps as the team’s O-line remained healthy. With standout right tackle Lane Johnson already missing time earlier in the year, Philadelphia’s luck on the health front has certainly taken a turn in 2024.

Another left tackle option would be Mekhi Becton. The former Jets first-rounder was tried at guard this offseason, and he beat out Tyler Steen for a starting gig on the inside. Becton does have experience on the blindside, though, and he could move there for the coming weeks while Mailata recovers. Doing that would, of course, create a vacancy at the right guard position and thus necessitate further shuffling up front.

In any case, a replacement for Mailata will need to be found as the 3-2 Eagles try to build off last week’s win. It will be interesting to see how their offensive line shakes out with a key member out of the fold for the time being.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/16/24

Today’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Los Angeles Rams

Philadelphia Eagles

Washington Commanders

A number of players returned to practice today, designating their return from injured reserve. This means teams will have 21 days to activate the players from IR to the active roster.

Noteboom is the most notable name, as the veteran has spent his entire career in Los Angeles. The former third-round pick has settled into a versatile sixth OL for the Rams, starting 32 of his 68 appearances. The lineman started Week 1 but only played in about one third of his team’s offense snaps before suffering an ankle injury.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/15/24

Today’s minor moves in the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Nichols is reportedly out for the season, per the Cardinals, but Prater could still return after an additional four-game absence. He’s already missed two games so far with a left knee issue. The 40-year-old was a perfect six-for-six on field goal attempts this year while 10-for-10 on extra points.

The Browns lose an important depth lineman in Harris. Harris started games at left tackle and center as an injury replacement this year, but he’ll be out for at least the next four games with an ankle injury.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris reported that Abernathy will be out for a “significant time,” per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/15/24

Today’s NFL practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

  • Signed: T Spencer Rolland

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Amos is far-removed from his days as a full-time starter in the NFC North. With Talanoa Hufanga on injured reserve, though, and only three safeties on the active roster, Amos could have an opportunity to make an impact in the Bay Area.

Eagles LT Jordan Mailata To Miss Time

Jordan Mailata has played well enough to earn two extensions, becoming one of this era’s premier offensive line development stories. Mailata’s work on his third Eagles contract will be on hold for a stretch, however.

Philadelphia’s left tackle will miss time due to the hamstring injury he sustained in Week 6, Nick Sirianni said Monday. Mailata is expected to miss multiple games because of the issue, which will prompt some rearranging on the Eagles’ front. Exiting the stadium on crutches, Mailata could be an IR candidate. Though, Sirianni stopped short of indicating that will ultimately be necessary.

Mailata has not missed multiple games in a season since 2021, when he missed three. The Australian blocker played every Eagles game last season and missed just one in 2022. This will be a bit more of a speedbump for the talented lineman, who signed a three-year, $66MM extension this offseason.

The Eagles moved Fred Johnson into Mailata’s blindside spot Sunday but have some options if they want to take another route. Philly rosters former Jets first-round tackle Mekhi Becton but has slotted him at right guard. Becton won the team’s RG position out of training camp, beating out Tyler Steen. Becton struggled for much of his Jets tenure at left tackle, though he did submit a promising rookie season. His issues — largely health-related — led to a modest market forming; Becton signed a one-year, $2.75MM deal. He would be in line for a far better accord in 2025, should the fifth-year O-lineman stay healthy.

Steen had been expected to win Philly’s RG job, being drafted in the 2023 third round and groomed to take over when Jason Kelce‘s retirement pushed Cam Jurgens to center. Becton’s arrival introduced a complication for Steen, who has played 66 offensive snaps this season after logging only 71 throughout the 2023 campaign.

A Becton move would depend on the Eagles’ view of Johnson, who has been with the Eagles since 2022. The Eagles added the former Steelers UDFA midway through the ’22 season. Johnson played in all 17 games as a backup last season and started one this year, filling in for Lane Johnson at RT. Fred Johnson has nine NFL starts on his resume; the first eight all came from 2019-21, giving the Eagles a decision to make.