Temperature Meter For Top Edge Rusher Trade To Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles have had a less-than-ideal start to the 2024 season. Nick Sirianni’s team has a 3-2 record and is second in the NFC East behind the Washington Commanders. Luckily for the Eagles, the NFC’s top teams aren’t running away with the conference through the first six weeks of the season.
The Eagles have had issues this year, whether it’s dealing with injuries, the head coach yelling at fans on the sideline, the offense’s slow start in games, or the defensive line not getting enough pressure on the quarterback. That last issue might be the biggest concern through the team’s first five games. The Eagles’ defense has 11 sacks, tied for the fifth fewest in the league. The defensive line has a combined 8.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. That’s not enough, especially with how much the organization has invested in the pass rush.
How Likely Is A Myles Garrett Or Maxx Crosby Edge Rusher Trade To The Eagles?
The Nov. 5 NFL trade deadline is looming, and rumors are swirling. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman could look into upgrading the pass rush, but how much would he be willing to part with? It would make sense to acquire a player for a late-round pick, but there are rumors about bigger fish being available. Those big fish are Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett and Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby.
Garrett is in the midst of a five-year, $125 million contract and is signed through the 2026 season. The 28-year-old is a five-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro, 2023 Defensive Player of the Year, and was the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He has 92.5 sacks in his eight-year career and is off to another dominant season.
Garrett has four sacks, six tackles for loss, and 14 quarterback pressures in six games this year. He would immediately be the top edge rusher on the Eagles defense. It would likely take at least a first-round pick, and the Browns would have to be willing to trade him. Garrett made it known publicly in the past about how he’d feel about playing in Philadelphia. Spoiler alert, he wouldn’t be opposed. The Browns are 1-5 and could go into sell mode ahead of the trade deadline.
As for Crosby, Raiders’ owner Mark Davis shut down the idea of trading his Pro Bowl defensive end. This isn’t the first time an organization shut down rumors about the availability of a player, then traded him anyway. The Raiders are 2-4, they’re without a stable quarterback, and they just traded All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams to the New York Jets. Despite what Davis said, Crosby could be on the move next.
Crosby was a fourth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. The 27-year-old has been to the Pro Bowl three times and has 57.5 sacks in his six-year career. He had 27 combined sacks in the previous two seasons and already has 5.5 sacks in five games this year. Crosby has 15 quarterback pressures and is tied for the league lead with nine tackles for loss in 2024. Like Garrett, it would take at least a first-round pick, if not more, to acquire Crosby, but he would immediately be the Eagles’ top edge rusher. He’s in the midst of a four-year, $94 million contract, and is signed through the 2026 season, with a potential out in 2025.
The Eagles could be in the market for an edge rusher, but they might also trust the personnel already on the roster, and let it ride for the remainder of the season. The pass rush unit is talented. They need to live up to their talent and play better. Could the Eagles acquire an edge rusher ahead of the trade deadline? Yes. Will Garrett of Crosby be wearing an Eagles uniform in 2024? Most likely not. The NFL is a business and is unpredictable, but the temperature meter for these rumors is ice cold.
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