Eagles could ignite pass rush with savvy trade no one’s talking about

General manager Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles entered the 2023 NFL Draft looking to beef up their defensive front — and beef up they did.

Philly wound up adding Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith Jr. in the first round, and Moro Ojomo in the seventh round of that draft. All three players are now critical starters for the Eagles’ young defense. 

But with Brandon Graham now officially coming out of retirement to help the team in some capacity, the Eagles clearly need more juice on the edge with the trade deadline looming on Tuesday evening.

Several potential trade targets have been discussed this season for the Eagles, including a couple former Vic Fangio guys in Bradley Chubb and Jaelen Phillips (both of the slumping Miami Dolphins). Fans may be praying for a blockbuster move like disgruntled Cincinnati Bengals star Trey Hendrickson, but Roseman is much more likely to seek a savvy deal for a player that offers high upside and minimal financial risk.

One potential target that no one’s talking about could be another top prospect from that 2023 draft class — a player that fits the Eagles’ typical mold for an edge defender and was taken two spots before Carter inside the top 10.

Las Vegas Raiders edge Tyree Wilson should be a Philadelphia Eagle before Tuesday's NFL trade deadline

Texas Tech star Tyree Wilson, who was drafted No. 7 overall by the Raiders, had the look of a quintessential target for Roseman entering the 2023 draft.

He’s a freakish prospect with long arms and a similar build to former Eagles’ edge Haason Reddick. His versatility to play either defensive end or outside linebacker is an added bonus.

The Las Vegas Raiders are in no position to be selling off young, potential cornerstone players, but Wilson continues to play a complementary role in Pete Carroll’s defense, and the new regime is unlikely to pick up Wilson’s looming fifth-year option next May; Over the Cap projects that option to cost the Raiders about $13.6 million.

This is the exact type of player Roseman should be coveting at this year’s trade deadline, given how the Eagles have been building their defense in recent years. Wilson’s still on his rookie contract, so he’d be both cheap and under team control through at least 2026; he’s also 25 years old and has flashed this season, notching 12 pressures, two sacks, and eight run stuffs in seven games, per Pro Football Focus. 

A major move for Hendrickson would stun the NFL world, but it just doesn’t make sense for the Eagles to spend high-end draft capital and cash on a potential rental. Wilson checks all the boxes — young, versatile, healthy, cheap — Roseman typically looks for while sharpening the edges of his roster on deadline day.

The Eagles have already done some business with Las Vegas this season, swapping defensive lineman Thomas Booker for cornerback Jakorian Bennett back in the summer. The Raiders should be willing to part with Wilson (and potentially a seventh-round pick) in exchange for a 2026 fourth-rounder, and Roseman and company should definitely be on the phone.