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It’s (almost) here, Philadelphia Eagles fans: the 2026 NFL trade deadline.
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Soon, fans around the NFL will get to see who ends up playing where, how many stars have to find new homes, and which teams are willing to go all in on 2026, or punt on the campaign in favor of the future.
In the past, for the vast majority of the 21st century, in fact, the Eagles have firmly been buyers, using the shrewd dealings of Howie Roseman to cash out future picks for present contributors.
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If it worked, like with Jay Ajayi, great, the Eagles’ ceiling elevated considerably and Roseman paid up with a new, long-term contract. And if it didn’t, that’s cool too; acquiring Jaelan Phillips didn’t really help the Eagles’ Super Bowl chances in 2025, but when he left in free agency, he effectively got the team back the pick they surrendered to bring him into the program, even if it comes in 2027 instead of 2026.
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In 2026, the Eagles are firmly sellers, with teams around the NFL trying to pry away a few members of the Super Bowl LIX roster in the hopes of getting them to Super Bowl LXI. Some players, like Saquon Barkley, have been publicly removed from the trade block, while others, like Moro Ojomo, have noted that the Eagles want to keep them long-term instead of pulling off a trade, but as the sharks circle and the time ticks down, more deals will arrive that Roseman has to navigate, some of which could change the franchise forever.
With very few players truly untradeable – Jordan Mailata, Quinyon Mitchell, Jalen Hurts, as he deals with blood clots – there is one player who is almost certainly not going to be traded at the deadline, but could garner a massive return from a team like the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are reportedly looking for a defensive tackle desperately: Jalen Carter. While from a talent standpoint, Carter is maybe the Eagles’ best defensive player when he’s firing on all cylinders, but considering how infrequently that happens, it might be the perfect time to cash out while his value is at an all-time high.
Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The Eagles have a perfect chance to exit the Jalen Carter rollercoaster
When the Eagles landed Carter in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, it looked like the steal of the century.
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Using a draft pick originally owned by the New Orleans Saints, which the Eagles artificially improved by allowing the Washington Commanders to beat them in the regular season finale, fans watched in awe as a player widely considered the most talented in the entire class slid down the board, with a minor trade of a fourth-round pick the only requirement to move from nine to eight in order to get a deal done.
From the point where Carter took the field as a rookie, he instantly impressed, turning in snaps, drives, quarters, and even games where he looked like the best player on the field regardless of uniform. Standing 6-foot-3, 314 pounds, Carter’s unique combination of bend and power has routinely wrecked interior offensive lines with ease, collapsing pockets and ruining whatever plan a quarterback had at the snap.
The problem: Carter simply doesn’t do it often enough.
Now in 2026, Carter has an excuse. The 25-year-old suffered a hairline fracture in his wrist early in the season and, as a result, has been playing with a cast on his hand. And yet, there have been games where Carter caused havoc all the same, recording five tackles, three tackles for a loss, and two sacks against the Jaguars in Week 5 after doing very little in the two games before and after.
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This trend of a dominant game followed by unremarkable performance has unfortunately been a trend for Carter as a pro. Unlike, say, Jeffery Simmons, who was traded for a massive package back in October, the Eagles never quite know what they will get from Carter every time he takes the field, and as a result, if he’s off, the entire defense tends to be as well. Sure, every player has a down game from time to time, but for the most part, when Zack Baun, Quinyon Mitchell, or even Jalyx Hunt takes the field, Vic Fangio knows what he’s going to get, and that just hasn’t been the case for Carter.
Could Carter put it all together and become the next Fletcher Cox, or even surpass him, which he has the talent to do? Sure, he could theoretically play another decade and will only get better as he enters Year 5, 6, and beyond. But it’s also possible Carter remains a very expensive question mark on a team with a lot of questions surrounding their future.
Trade proposal
Eagles: 2027 second-round pick, 2027 third-round pick, 2028 first-round pick, Brian Thomas Jr.
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Jaguars: Jalen Carter, 2027 fifth-round pick
Mandatory Credit: Travis Register-Imagn Images
The Eagles can reset their roster with Brian Thomas Jr., Moro Ojomo
If the Eagles are going to trade Carter – which they probably won’t, but should at least consider – the conversation doesn’t even start unless at least one first-round pick is on the table.
Sure, some fans will want a second first-round pick or at least an additional Day 2 selection, but at the bare minimum, the Eagles need to add another one, especially in 2028, when they will have three at their disposal, and Hurts could theoretically no longer be on the team. But what if they could also add a depreciated asset who has produced at the NFL level but is currently struggling to consistently reach the top end of his ceiling?
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Fortunately, the Jaguars have that on their roster too in Brian Thomas Jr., who looked like a legit WR1 as a rookie before becoming an afterthought in Liam Coen’s scheme.
Initially drafted in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of LSU, Thomas was one of the more controversial players in his class, a deep threat who ran a limited scheme in college, but quickly proved doubters wrong right out of the gate, where he recorded 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns on his way to a Pro Bowl appearance. He recorded an average of 75.4 yards per game, including 14.7 per reception, and looked like the kind of player who could pair up with Trevor Lawrence for years to come.
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And yet, in 2026, Thomas’ yards per game are under 20, and he has recorded zero yards in three of the eight games he’s appeared in.
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With the rest of this year, all of next year, and a fifth-year option still on the table for the 2028 NFL season, BTJ presents a unique reclamation project who could help stretch the field for Joe Milton now and potentially develop an expanded role in Philadelphia long-term if he recaptures his early success.
Moving on from Carter also opens the door for Ojomo actually getting that extension he mentioned, forming a one-two punch with Jordan Davis that costs as much as the “Baby Rhino” on his own. With Hunt, Mitchell, DeJean, Nolan Smith, and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. all in need of new contracts in the not-too-distant future, the Eagles could effectively spread Carter’s money out over multiple players and use the capital he garners to add even more young, cost-controlled talent who can fill foundational roles for years to come.
Would the Eagles be better off without Carter in 2026, 2027, or even 2028? Most likely not, but with the decisions to trade away Brown and Jurgens already looking like genius moves, who knows? Maybe Roseman can take advantage of the Jaguars’ desperation and pull off another monster trade. Considering how much James Gladstone gave up for Travis Hunter, it’s not like Jacksonville is particularly stingy when they identify a player they like, so why not take advantage of that and set the Eagles up for their next generation of Super Bowl contenders?
Related: Eagles Week 9 injury report vs. Giants: Saquon Barkley still battling through hamstring issue
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
