Top Eagles Trade Targets Entering 2024 Offseason

The 2024 offseason has already brought about big changes in the Philadelphia Eagles coaching staff. Once we approach the spring, the roster is bound to undergo changes as well.

The late-season collapse that saw the Eagles lose six of their final seven games including a 32-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has already had big implications for their coaching staff. Kellen Moore was brought in as the new offensive coordinator while Vic Fangio will be the new defensive coordinator.

It won’t be surprising if general manager Howie Roseman takes a similar approach to aggressively improve the roster.

That means we could see more trades for the Eagles. Roseman has shown a tendency to trade more than most GM’s. Since last April he has swung 10 trades.

The Eagles currently have $21 million in cap space, per Spotrac, and have moves to create even more so the GM has some latitude to make moves and work to ensure that the Eagles come back stronger in 2024.

Here are three targets that should be on his trade radar to accomplish that goal.

CB Patrick Surtain II

Justin Simmons: Patrick Surtain II is going to be a top-five corner in this league

If the Eagles want to get ultra-aggressive, they’ll circle back to a trade target from the trade deadline.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported back in November that the Eagles and the 49ers were both calling the Denver Broncos about trading for their star defensive back. Ultimately both were rebuffed and Florio reported that Denver wasn’t trading him without a “major haul”.

Patrick Surtain II is one of the best young cornerbacks in the league. After disappointing campaigns from both James Bradberry and Darius Slay, acquiring Surtain is a move that would instantly bring back the swagger to the Eagles secondary.

Still, it’s understandable that the Eagles might have been hesitant to put together a big trade package in the middle of the season. The collapse hadn’t completely transpired yet and midseason blockbusters are just rare in general.

But the Eagles problems in the secondary have only become more magnified since then and the Broncos have let it be known that they plan to cut Russell Wilson in the spring. That leads to questions about how long it might take them to find a quarterback who can win.

The fact that the Eagles just poached Broncos defensive backs coach Christian Parker to join their defensive staff certainly isn’t going to quiet those trade rumors.

The Eagles would likely have to package multiple picks, including their first rounder in this year’s draft, but Surtain is a star player in the prime of his career on a rookie contract that fills one of Philadelphia’s biggest needs.

He’s easily their top trade target.

S Budda Baker

Cardinals must be cognizant of Budda Baker's disappointment

The Eagles attempted to fill their need at safety by trading for Kevin Byard at the trade deadline. However, the version of Byard they got was not the same one that was an All-Pro selection in 2021.

In the 10 games that Byard played with the Eagles he gave up a 75.6 percent completion percentage, two touchdowns and a 103.3 passer rating. Granted, there are difficulties in going to a new defensive system in the middle of the season, but his play doesn’t inspire confidence going into 2024.

There’s a real chance that Byard is simply going into decline as he approaches his age-31 season. After giving up the fourth-highest passer rating in the league as a defense, the Eagles have to find ways to improve their secondary.

Thus, targeting Cardinals safety Budda Baker should be a consideration. Baker is 28 years old and has two first-team All-Pro seasons on his resume. Much like C.J. Gardner-Johnson, he has the versatility to line up everywhere as a safety and would bring a versatility to the Eagles defense that they need.

Baker has a club option for next season and has requested a trade in the past. The Cardinals stand to clear $15.1 million in cap space if they decide to trade him and the Eagles obviously have an existing relationship with Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon.

First-Round Draft Pick

Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

While it would be great to add a veteran who could help right away, the Eagles have to keep the big picture in mind. That means adding draft picks should still be a priority.

The Eagles are pretty well set up for the draft at this point. They have nine total picks and are ninth in draft capital by Tankathon’s metric. That ranking is buoyed by their two picks in the second round and a compensatory pick in the third round.

Those all offer a good opportunity for the Eagles to grab a good prospect, but the truth is that this is an aging roster and Philly shouldn’t turn down an opportunity to grab another first-round pick if there’s a trade that makes sense. Whether it’s trading away a veteran or giving up some Day 2 picks to get back in the first round it would make sense to aim to have two first-round picks.

The secondary is obviously an area of need. Kool-Aid McKinstry is the only prospect who has a first-round grade on B/R’s latest big board. However, safety prospect Kamren Kinchens should also catch their attention.

Coming away from the draft with two first-rounders would potentially give them two starters on rookie contracts.