Rookies and veterans alike will report to training camp for the Philadelphia Eagles on July 22.
Coming off their Super Bowl 59 victory, the Eagles are in a tricky spot right now, as they’re going to have to find ways to continue balancing success with the financial difficulties of maintaining their stars. They still carry around $31 million in cap space, but they also have just under $77 million in dead money on the books.
While general manager Howie Roseman looks to maintain a competitive roster, it wouldn’t be a bad thing to either shed a hefty contract or two, or trade a few young players for future draft picks. Considering the current state of the roster, we put together four trade candidates for Philly, all of whom just happen to be on defense.
Jordan Davis, DT
As a 2022 first-round pick, Jordan Davis delivered a breakout performance last season, playing a significant role in the Eagles’ dominant run defense and earning his fifth-year option through 2026. His 2024 stats—27 total tackles (three for loss) a sack and two pass deflections—aren’t gaudy, but they show a solid and steady contributor.
But Davis’s cap hit — projected at $12.9 million in 2026 — could make him a target if Philly needs to reallocate funds—particularly if they decide to pursue a marquee pass rusher. With interior DL depth and younger options pushing, Davis’s combination of youth and value make him a logical trade chip should the Eagles decide to pivot toward premium edge talent.
Sydney Brown, Safety
Sydney Brown burst onto the scene as a third-round pick in 2023, highlighted by a memorable 99-yard pick-six late in his rookie year. Unfortunately, a torn ACL in Week 18 cut the young safety’s first year short and disrupted his sophomore season, limiting him to just 79 defensive snaps and seven tackles in 2024. Now healthy, he faces some serious competition in the secondary, particularly after the selection of rookie Andrew Mukuba.
Despite his upside, Mukuba’s emergence could render Brown a bit redundant. With a modest 2025 cap number ($1 million) and spotty defensive contributions, he represents a low-risk trade value—a rotational safety with special-teams value that could net a late-round pick. If Brown doesn’t show up and show out in camp, the Eagles may not hesitate to move him.
Eli Ricks, Cornerback
Eli Ricks, a former undrafted free agent out of LSU and Alabama, made the Eagles’ roster in 2023 and has shown flashes ever since. Over two seasons, he’s recorded 21 tackles and 3 pass deflections, though most of his action has been limited to special teams and sporadic defensive snaps. Standing at the 6-foot-2, Ricks has rare length and decent ball skills. He impressed as a rookie, allowing catches on only 50% of his targets across 301 snaps, one of the best completion percentages among undrafted rookie corners.That production, combined with a modest $1.03 million cap hit in 2025, has made Ricks an intriguing trade asset. And with a burgeoning secondary—Kelee Ringo, Adoree’ Jackson, Mac McWilliams are all competing for a role alongside starters Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean—the Eagles may opt to move Ricks in a trade that nets a late-round pick. Teams like the Vikings scouted him back in 2023, and they could use some help at corner, so maybe they’re an option?
Thomas Booker, DT
A former fifth-round pick for Philly in 2022, Thomas Booker finished with 33 tackles and 1.5 sacks last season as a rotational interior defender.
With the depth chart featuring Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, Byron Young and Gabe Hall, among others, Booker could become expendable. Trading or releasing him could free roster space for a rookies or UDFA, while generating modest cap savings. His solid line play and size (6’3”, 301 pounds) should attract teams needing immediate depth up front—making him a potential mid-summer trade candidate.
