Twenty months ago, the Philadelphia Eagles were on top of the football world, having annihilated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in a Super Bowl LIX loss that wasn’t even as close as that one-sided score suggests. Jalen Hurts was Super Bowl MVP. AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith caught touchdown passes in the victory. Saquon Barkley had rushed for over 2,000 yards during the season. The offensive line was the best of the best. The defense was filled with young talent everywhere.
It felt like it could last forever.
This is not the case. The biggest cost of winning – losing coaches and players to other teams – was very significant. The 2025 Eagles were still talented enough to make the playoffs, but something was wrong. New offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo was fired after one season. Brown was unhappy with his role and was traded to the Patriots. Hurts was up and down. Barkley has dropped off considerably, as has the offensive line.
They say the end comes slowly, then all at once, and that seems to be true for Philadelphia. Over the past two weeks, the Eagles were blown away by a Bears team starting with 38-year-old third-string quarterback Case Keenum, then snuffed out a 10-point lead with less than five minutes left against the Rams. Two days after that loss, future Hall of Fame right tackle Lane Johnson retired, citing mental healthand a day later, the Eagles exchange Cam Jurgens (and a seventh-round pick) to the Ravens, getting a 2027 fifth-round pick and a 2028 first-round pick.
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If the Eagles do indeed turn over a new leaf and focus more on the future, there could be other moves before the November 10 trade deadline. There’s still plenty of talent on this team, and the Eagles have already made a living with what they’ve pledged; they currently have two first round picks And two second-round picks in 2028. With just over a month until the deadline and major trades already in the works – Jurgens to the Ravens this week, Joey Porter Jr. to the Cowboys last week – here are three more Eagles to watch.
Contract status: Signed a one-year contract worth $7 million this offseason; free agent in 2027
The theme of the last two days – and really this season – is “It’s hard to imagine the Eagles without…” coming true. Johnson spent all 14 years of his all-time great career in the City of Brotherly Love. The offensive line has long been a strength, but offensive line guru Jeff Stoutland left this offseason, Landon Dickerson was injured, and now Johnson and Jurgens are gone.
It’s hard to imagine the Eagles without Goedert, but here we are. The longtime star tested free agency this offseason before returning to Philadelphia. He passed for two touchdowns in Week 1, but suffered a knee injury in Week 2. He has suffered several injuries over the past few years, much like Jurgens, and the Eagles drafted Eli Stowers in the second round this year. Stowers appears to be in a redshirt season, but if things go really bad, the Eagles might want to see what they have in him. Goedert is still productive and he could land a Day 3 pick.
Landing location: 49ers. The 4-0 49ers don’t have much of a need here, but pairing George Kittle with Goedert would make for a great tight end duo, and considering how many wide receivers have been injured, more pass catchers are always helpful. San Francisco is currently using multiple tight ends on 28% of its snaps, its highest rate since 2019.
Contract status: Signed a one-year contract worth $12 million this offseason; free agent in 2027
Tariq Woolen seemed like a good fit for Philadelphia as CB2 opposite Quinyon Mitchell, a spot the Eagles struggled with last year. Woolen has been better than his predecessors, but he’s still allowing 12.5 yards per pass as a primary defender per PFF — 37th out of 55 players who have been the primary defender at least 20 times this season. That’s on track to be the highest number since his rookie season.
In reality, it is not so much a matter of Woolen being bad in itself, as this is a team that might not keep him, potentially getting a decent return. Woolen’s film looks better than the numbers — he was on the wrong side of some moments of good defense and better offense against Puka Nacua in Week 4 — and many teams are looking for cornerback help.
Potential suitor: Lions. Detroit was on Joey Porter Jr. before he landed in Dallas, and Woolen’s skills and size in man coverage would help a secondary that needs all the cornerback help it can get.
Contract status: Signed a one-year contract worth $1.4 million this offseason; free agent in 2027
The Eagles added AJ Epenesa as a rotational upside, but he’s only playing 11% of Philadelphia’s defensive snaps so far. A former first-round pick, Epenesa had 19 sacks from 2022-24 for the Bills and a solid 13.6% pressure rating in 2025. He attracted interest this offseason, first agreeing to a one-year deal with the Browns before Cleveland withdrew after his medical examination. If Philadelphia can generate any interest — even a late-round pick trade — in a player who doesn’t play much, moving Epenesa could be worth it. It’s not the most exciting deal, but suitors are often interested in urgent late-season help.
Potential suitor: Falcons. Atlanta defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has done a tremendous job this season, getting the most out of a defensive front made up of mostly veteran journeymen. Maybe Epenesa could be next.
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