The Eagles’ trade pitch secures a former first-round defensive back for Philadelphia, potentially grooming a successor to Darius Slay.

Though they still have plenty of time to do so, the Philadelphia Eagles have not yet addressed their cornerback issues this offseason.

A trade proposal that has been put together by Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine would enable them to add a young, talented wide receiver who has the potential to succeed James Bradberry or Darrius Slay.

The backup plan for Slay and Bradberry is questionable at best, and the more experienced cornerback, Bradberry, is coming off a dismal campaign. Last season, Bradberry finished with just one interception while giving up nine touchdowns in coverage.

In accordance with Ballentine’s trade proposal, Philadelphia would receive a 2024 second-round pick (number 53 overall) in exchange for current Cleveland Browns defensive back Greg Newsome II.

The Eagles Must Become Younger at Cornerback

Ballentine has excellent reason to think that the Eagles might make a stealthy addition in Newsome: the team has to locate younger corners because Bradberry and Slay are both older than thirty.

Ballentine stated on March 27 that “the Eagles most likely had to stick with both veterans due to cap constraints, but finding successors is a big piece of the offseason puzzle that hasn’t been completed.”

Trading for a younger corner on a cheap deal would be an alternative to drafting one who might or might not require some time to adjust to the league. The fourth year of Greg Newsome’s rookie contract is underway. Although he has a fifth-year option with the Browns, his 2024 salary is only $2.4 million.

Ballentine also thinks that given the composition of their current CBs room, the Browns could be open to parting with the young defensive back.

He stated, “Newsome has never allowed a passer rating beyond 85.6 in a single season, although he doesn’t have much ball output (two interceptions in three years). The Browns have already made a big financial commitment to Denzel Ward, and Martin Emerson outperformed Newsome in the previous campaign. Given that the Browns won’t have enough draft money this year and won’t be able to pay all three later on, it may make him the odd man out.

Greg Newsome II Would Make a Good Addition to the Philadelphia Eagles or Another Team

After being selected by the Browns in the first round out of Northwestern in 2021, Newsome has made 39 starts in his three seasons in the NFL. He’s still only 23 (he turns 24 in May), but he has the makings of a reliable starter.

Having not caught an interception in his first two NFL seasons, Newsome made a change in that regard last season.

Newsome recorded 49 total tackles (four for loss), 0.5 sacks, a quarterback hit, 14 pass breakups, two interceptions, and a defensive score in 14 games (13 starts) the previous season. It is important to take into account that over his three seasons in the league, the 6-foot, 192-pound corner has sustained many concussions.

In order to meet its needs at safety, Philadelphia signed C.J. Gardner-Johnson to a three-year contract worth up to $33 million. We’ll see what they do to make the CB’s room more elaborate.