If the Philadelphia Eagles eventually decide to move on from players, a few would stand out more than others.
I'm still of the belief that moving on from guys who are below 30 years old and have big futures in this league doesn't make a whole lot of sense for Philadelphia, but the reality is that this organization is likely heading into a different situation than it has been over the past couple of years, and moving on from certain players could make some sense.
At the same time, we've also seen how Howie Roseman really works things the right way. When Roseman has his back up against the wall and needs to make the necessary moves to improve his roster, he typically finds a way to do so.
That's why moving on from a guy like Nolan Smith Jr. doesn't make much sense to me, even if the Eagles can get back a decent return.
The Athletic recently suggested that he could be available, naming the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers as potential fits.
That's one promising sign for Philadelphia, if any, considering that both teams have the assets to make the trade for a player of his caliber and could be desperate to do so.
“The Eagles exercised Smith’s fifth-year option in the spring. He is in the fourth year of his rookie deal and is due $13.75 million guaranteed in 2027. Because the Eagles restructured Smith’s fifth-year option — a pretty rare occurrence — they would take on a little less than $1 million in dead money in 2027 if they traded Smith.
“The Eagles are now in a rare position. They can sell and potentially earn a high draft slot, affording GM Howie Roseman a chance to retool. Smith, a violent edge-setter who had 13 pressures through the first six weeks, would be a trade option if Roseman aggressively pursues this rebuild opportunity,” The Athletic wrote.
Sending Smith to the Cowboys might not be a fan-favorite idea, but if Dallas gets the best return for the star linebacker, that's exactly where he needs to go.
Over the past couple of seasons, Smith has continued to prove why the Eagles made the right decision when they selected him in the first round back in 2023.
The one-time Super Bowl champion and Georgia native has dealt with some injuries, but outside of that, has been as good as it gets. With just a couple of weeks before the trade deadline now, he's one of the more intriguing names in the league to watch.