Eagles Make Surprise Move in Free Agency, Trade Third-Round Pick for Injured Edge Defender Jaelan Phillips
The Philadelphia Eagles have shaken up their defensive line by trading a third-round pick to the Miami Dolphins for edge defender Jaelan Phillips. The move comes as a surprise, given that Phillips has been plagued by injuries throughout his young career.
Phillips, a first-round draft pick in 2021, was having a breakout season with the Eagles under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio before suffering a torn Achilles that cut short his campaign. He has since torn an ACL, ending his season after just four games. The cost of acquiring Phillips, who will be playing on his fifth-year option at $13.25 million, seems steep considering his injury history.
Despite the risks, the Eagles believe that Phillips can still contribute to their pass rush, which has struggled to consistently generate pressure from the edge. With the addition of Phillips, they will also gain an influx of new talent to the rotation, including Nolan Smith and Brandon Graham, who are both returning from injuries.
However, the trade does come with some concerns. The cost of a third-round pick is relatively high, especially given that Phillips' career season-high was 8.5 sacks last year. If he signs with another team in free agency next offseason, he could potentially become eligible for a compensatory pick, which would benefit the Dolphins but not the Eagles.
The Eagles will retain their more valuable third-round pick from the New York Jets, while giving up their own pick to acquire Phillips. It remains to be seen how this move will play out and whether it will pay off in the long run. One thing is certain, however: the Eagles are taking a calculated risk on an injured edge defender with a big upside.
The Philadelphia Eagles have shaken up their defensive line by trading a third-round pick to the Miami Dolphins for edge defender Jaelan Phillips. The move comes as a surprise, given that Phillips has been plagued by injuries throughout his young career.
Phillips, a first-round draft pick in 2021, was having a breakout season with the Eagles under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio before suffering a torn Achilles that cut short his campaign. He has since torn an ACL, ending his season after just four games. The cost of acquiring Phillips, who will be playing on his fifth-year option at $13.25 million, seems steep considering his injury history.
Despite the risks, the Eagles believe that Phillips can still contribute to their pass rush, which has struggled to consistently generate pressure from the edge. With the addition of Phillips, they will also gain an influx of new talent to the rotation, including Nolan Smith and Brandon Graham, who are both returning from injuries.
However, the trade does come with some concerns. The cost of a third-round pick is relatively high, especially given that Phillips' career season-high was 8.5 sacks last year. If he signs with another team in free agency next offseason, he could potentially become eligible for a compensatory pick, which would benefit the Dolphins but not the Eagles.
The Eagles will retain their more valuable third-round pick from the New York Jets, while giving up their own pick to acquire Phillips. It remains to be seen how this move will play out and whether it will pay off in the long run. One thing is certain, however: the Eagles are taking a calculated risk on an injured edge defender with a big upside.
The Eagles have some talent coming back from injuries and I think they could've been smart to just give those guys more time to heal instead of taking on so much risk. But hey, it's their money 
, and if they think Phillips can be the game-changer they need, then I'm all for it 
But hey, at least they're trying to address their pass rush issues, right? The thing that really got me was when people started saying they were taking a "calculated risk" 
. No way, man! They're just throwing money at an injury-prone guy hoping he'll magically heal and become the defensive force everyone thought he'd be... 
. Phillips had some huge potential but he's been dealing with so much hurt it's crazy! 
You gotta feel for the guy, but at the same time, I'm not sure if 13.25 million is worth taking that risk 
. The Eagles are basically saying "Hey, we'll pay top dollar to hope he stays healthy" 
... he's got so much potential but that injury history is scary 
... it's like they're saying "we believe in you, even though you've been hurt before" 
... and yeah, it might not pay off if he gets hurt again 
... but at the same time, they need someone to shake things up on defense 
... hope everything works out for them and phillips can stay healthy 
. The Eagles saw value in Jaelan Phillips despite his injury history and decided to take a chance on him. It's not always easy to see the potential in someone who hasn't been able to stay on the field, but it takes guts to make a move like this.
and hope for the best. And if it doesn't work out, well, that's just part of the game 
. The key is to learn from your mistakes and move forward. So, I'd say we can all take a page out of the Eagles' book and be more open to taking calculated risks in our own lives. After all, growth happens outside of our comfort zones 
!
. But that third-round pick? It feels like a lot 
. Guess we'll just have to wait and see how this all plays out 
!
. I know his injury history is a major concern but come on, he's got that insane talent and I just can't even 
. Vic Fangio knows what he's doing 
and with the addition of Phillips, our defense is gonna be UNSTOPPABLE 
. I'm so here for this move and I know it'll pay off in the end 
. Who else is hyped?!? 