Which Eagles players are untouchable at the trade deadline?

You can feel safe about these Eagles, they won't be traded even in the worst firesale.

By Jimmy Kempski
PhillyVoice Staff

Bill Streicher/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

DeVonta Smith isn't going anywhere.

The Philadelphia Eagles are 2-5 with a five-game losing streak during which they have been cumulatively outgained by over 800 yards. As currently constructed, they are bottom five type of team, and it sure doesn't seem like they're going to get much better.

Two weeks ago, we concluded that the Eagles should punt on the 2026 season, and trade still-valuable players not in the team's long-term plans for future assets.

Thereafter, we listed seven valuable Eagles players who could attract attention from other teams around the NFL at the trade deadline. They were, in our order of likelihood to be dealt: 

1. EDGE Nolan Smith

2. CB Riq Woolen

3. LG Landon Dickerson

4. iDL Moro Ojomo

5. RB Saquon Barkley

6. TE Dallas Goedert

7. LB Zack Baun

I might change that order around a bit since we published that article, but whatever.

Last week, we added four less valuable players who also make sense in trade deadline deals. They were:

1. RG Tyler Steen

2. OT Fred Johnson

3. iDL Byron Young

4. WR Hollywood Brown

To be clear, we are not suggesting that the Eagles are going to trade 11 players, or anything close to that. A more realistic number is, I dunno, two? If they get really crazy, three?

Anyway, it took a couple of weeks, but after two more Eagles losses there is now wide speculation that they will be sellers at the trade deadline, and some of the names I've seen thrown around have been, uhhhh, unlikely. So I thought that it was maybe worth listing Eagles players who are either untouchable or untradeable. We'll organize players into several different buckets:

1. Building blocks who aren't going anywhere

2. Young guys who are still developing

3. Guys who the team might be open to trading but realistically can't because of their contracts

4. The specialists

5. Nobody is trading for them in their current state

6. Other

Got it? Cool. For the sake of brevity, we're not going to cover every guy on the roster.

Building blocks who aren't going anywhere

• WR DeVonta Smith: Though he has struggled staying healthy this season, Smith is a legit WR1 with a winner's mindset. He's not going anywhere.

• LT Jordan Mailata: Mailata is still a great player and the last man standing on a formerly great but disintegrating offensive line. He is also a point of pride for the organization in the draft and from a developmental perspective, not to mention a favorite player of the owner.

• CB Quinyon Mitchell: Mitchell is the best player on the defense, and it's probably not close at this point.

• DB Cooper DeJean: DeJean has had a disappointing season, but he has been asked to play multiple positions and he's banged up. He's still an extremely talented football player who should bounce back. 

• EDGE Jalyx Hunt: Hunt was expected to break out this season, but that hasn't happened. Still, the organization believes in him as a core piece.

Young starters who are still developing

Typically, trade deadline buyers are looking for players who can help them immediately for the stretch run. But also, trade deadline sellers don't often deal young players who haven't yet reached their prime, and can help long-term. All of the following players therefore don't make much sense to be included in trade deadline deals.

1. WR Makai Lemon

2. C Drew Kendall

3. RT Markel Bell

4. LB Jihaad Campbell

5. LB Jeremiah Trotter

6. S Andrew Mukuba

(Note: I could add more here, but these are merely the guys who are either starters or have significant roles currently.

Guys who the team should otherwise be open to trading but realistically can't because of their contracts

These players would have an immediately detrimental financial burden to the Eagles if traded. Also, they are all underperforming so far this season, so other teams around the league would not be likely to pay the cost the Eagles would demand in a trade, even if the Eagles were willing (or even able) to take on the aforementioned financial burden.

1. iDL Jalen Carter

2. iDL Jordan Davis

3. EDGE Jonathan Greenard

The specialists

Jake Elliott and Braden Mann have both had great seasons so far, and rookie LS Rocco Underwood has settled in nicely after a shaky start to his first training camp. The Eagles don't want to have to find replacements for any of those guys.

Nobody is trading for them in their current state

• QB Jalen Hurts: Hurts of course has blood clots in his lungs, and his season is over. Depending on how things play out after this mess of a season is over, particularly in the case of a head coaching change, a trade of Hurts should be viewed as a possibility, but not until the offseason.

Other

• RT Lane Johnson: Even though he announced that he is retired, Johnson remains on the 53-man roster. I suppose there is some scenario where he's in a better head space after some time away and might want to play for some other contender. In theory the Eagles could still trade him, but that is not something that appears to be on anyone's radar at all, and we're only two weeks from the deadline.

https://www.phillyvoice.com/which-eagles-players-are-untouchable-trade-deadline-devonta-smith-jalen-carter/

As much as I love Barkley (I’ve been a big fan since his days at Whitehall HS), if we could find a suitor to deal for him, I think it would be best for the TEAM to do so. He’s getting to be in the older side for RBs and it would be tremendous help to the cap to get rid of that contract. Get a mid round pick or 2 in what is supposed to be a loaded draft in 2027.

For a team that has to retool, not rebuild, it is imperative that they have coaches that can develop young players.

They lost Christian Parker, who was the defensive backs coach here, and Jeff Stoutland, the best offensive line coach in the NFL.... and it's no surprise that they're having problems with those 2 areas. Fangio seems to have a certain method for integrating young players into the defense, but I'm wondering if Fangio is tiring of working under a guy like Sirianni and his heart isn't in it......he's was rumored to be contemplating retirement last year.

Yes, injuries have been an issue, but that makes developing and preparing backups more critical.

As far as the list above, I see no reason to move on from Barkley and Baun. Barkley can still get it done with a better O-line.....and Baun is an all-pro that is a leader and anchor of the defense. With losing Brandon Graham and Nakobe Dean, they lost a lot of leadership on defense.

The eagles are still very talented. But people want to criticize the last 2 drafts, but different players develop at different speeds. Philly fans and media want quick results.....when you have a draft like the 2024 draft, it can spoil a fan base into thinking that's possible every year.

The eagles have solid mid-career players, solid 1st contract players and good developing talent. But they also had to deal with losing a lot of talent due to salary cap restraints, retirements, career altering injuries and losing good coaches. Combine that with OCs who weren't ready for the position, a head coach who doesn't know how to fix issues or make adjustments and you have a season like last year and now this year.

Roseman always plays the long game. He looks and prepares for 1 and 2 years down the road. And he knows this season is on the brink, but he's not going to give players away for less than their value.

.

I would put Dickerson in same category as Carter, Davis and Greenard. No one is realistically trading for Dickerson.

I would also keep Baun as one of our core players. He’s still one of the best players on defense, not sure why you would trade him.

I wouldn’t trade Smitty or Q. The rest? I could be talked in to at a good price.

Saquon makes a ton of sense to trade. I don’t think he’s going to be a part of this team when we are ready to contend again so get what you can for him.

Mailata has been incredible and a future HoFer but I don’t think he’s been particularly good for 2 years now. If the team feels good about Bell then I could see them trading Mailata for the right price? If they could get a high value for him then I could see that.

On 10/31/2026 at 3:56 AM, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

I wouldn’t trade Smitty or Q. The rest? I could be talked in to at a good price.

Saquon makes a ton of sense to trade. I don’t think he’s going to be a part of this team when we are ready to contend again so get what you can for him.

Mailata has been incredible and a future HoFer but I don’t think he’s been particularly good for 2 years now. If the team feels good about Bell then I could see them trading Mailata for the right price? If they could get a high value for him then I could see that.

On 10/31/2026 at 12:56 AM, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

I wouldn’t trade Smitty or Q. The rest? I could be talked in to at a good price.

Saquon makes a ton of sense to trade. I don’t think he’s going to be a part of this team when we are ready to contend again so get what you can for him.

Mailata has been incredible and a future HoFer but I don’t think he’s been particularly good for 2 years now. If the team feels good about Bell then I could see them trading Mailata for the right price? If they could get a high value for him then I could see that.

You don't trade a good left tackle in the NFL without a guy ready to start immediately.......Bell is a good developing tackle but he's staying at RT with Johnson gone. Trading Malaita makes no sense.....Why create a massive problem when the team has other huge needs?

The problem for Saquon is his contract. Eagles cannot allow to take more money to add to their already financial problems

Howie is going to be limited by a couple of things.

He has to figure what eagles free agents he may want to resign under the cap restrictions. If they replace Sirianni and his coaching staff, some of the guys Howie may want to sign, may not fit into a new coaching philosophy & scheme.....which would make them draft day trade bait.

Two being the dead money he's willing to take on......

The next thing is the comp pick calculation......he has to estimate what a free agent will bring in comp picks and not trade a guy for less than that. If Ojomo can garner a 3rd round comp pick, he's not going to trade him for a 4th or 5th.

And lastly, I think, the rest of the league can be a bit tentative when dealing with Roseman......

So the housecleaning some fans and media expect is simply not going to happen......he may make 2-3 trades..........