sportingnews
As the Philadelphia Eagles prepare for their Sunday Night Football clash with the Washington Commanders, they do so with a 2-5 record and a season that is largely slipping away. The team's playoff hopes are dim, especially with quarterback Jalen Hurts sidelined for the year due to blood clots in his lungs and offensive lineman Lane Johnson having retired. In this context, general manager Howie Roseman might be expected to sell off assets before the trade deadline, and star running back Saquon Barkley has been a name floated in trade rumors.
However, according to ESPN's Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport, the Eagles have no intention of trading Barkley. Despite the potential for a significant return, this stance is actually the correct one for several reasons.
Why Keeping Barkley Makes Sense
Garafolo and Rapoport reported that Barkley will not be moved before the deadline, quashing speculation that the star running back could be dealt as the Eagles appear to be falling out of contention. This decision should not be evaluated solely through the lens of the 2026 season. While the Eagles might have a slim chance to rally and secure a playoff spot, the more critical factor is how this move affects the team's future.
Trading Barkley would result in a dead cap charge exceeding $26 million for Philadelphia, making a deal nearly impossible to execute. Even if a team offered a first-round pick, the financial ramifications would be hard to swallow. But the Eagles' choice to retain Barkley extends beyond salary cap considerations; it also hinges on the team's outlook for the 2027 season.
Assuming Hurts returns to full health, 2027 could be the last year that Roseman and the Eagles take a shot with this current core. If the team falters again that year, major changes could follow. Trading Barkley now, before giving Hurts and this group one more opportunity, would be premature. The Eagles intend to compete in 2027, so moving Barkley would not align with their timeline. It would signal that the team is entering a rebuild, which is not the case at present.
The 2026 season may be a down year due to the team's injury woes, but it is not a franchise-altering one. Trading Barkley would convey to both the team and the fan base that they are giving up not only on 2026 but also on 2027. Given the contract structures and the current roster, 2027 might be their final realistic window to contend. Therefore, a Barkley trade would be illogical.
Unless Hurts' NFL career were over and the Eagles were prepared to dismantle the roster, trading Barkley would make little sense. The report that the Eagles are keeping Barkley is the right call by Roseman and the organization. While some may advocate for tearing the team down and rebuilding, it is wiser to give this group one more chance to compete in 2027 rather than shake things up mid-season.
Originally reported by sportingnews.