Trade rumors have heated up in recent days, most notably in San Francisco. According to Michael Lombardi, the 49ers have made four players available via trade: pass rusher Dee Ford, linebacker Kwon Alexander, wide receiver Maquise Goodwin and safety Jaquiski Tartt.
The Niners already traded away DeForest Buckner at the beginning of the offseason, but the organization is still cap strapped, so moves will need to be made before or during the upcoming NFL Draft.
Unlike the Niners, the Eagles are not strapped for cash entering the draft. General manager Howie Roseman has about $27 million in cap to work with, whereas the Niners have approximately $11 million in cap.
Not only would the Eagles easily be able to take on any of these players’ salaries, every player that San Fran has made available could fill a position of need for Philly.
But in all honesty, none of these players would be worth giving up assets for.
Howie could draft a much better receiver in this draft than Goodwin, so scratch him off. Dee Ford is a nice pass rusher, but he’s about to turn 30 and counts for $17.6 against the cap next season — at that point you might as well just trade for Yannick Ngakoue and re-sign him to a big deal.
Jaquiski Tartt doesn’t seem like much of an upgrade over what the team currently has at safety, although he’d probably be good for competition.
The only one that makes some sense is Kwon Alexander. He just signed a four-year, $54 million deal with the Niners last offseason, but after a lack luster first season with the team where he faced multiple injuries, San Fran already seems ready to move on from him.
He would only count for $4 million against the cap this season, but then his number jumps up to $14 million the following year. He is only 25-year-old though, and has some Pro Bowl pedigree to his name.
Maybe offering Rasul Douglas and a late round pick could get a deal done? It appears the Niners are just trying to clear cap space at this point and aren’t overly concerned with how they do it.
I don’t think anyone would scoff at a trade for Alexander, especially given how barren the linebacker group for this team is. He’d instantly be the best backer of the group.
But, other than Alexander, the Eagles shouldn’t entertain any of the other names being dangled out there by the Niners.