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Raiders Trade Starter to Eagles for Possible Christian Wilkins Replacement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Austin C. Boyd | Last updated Aug 4, 2025 10:21 PM ET

Jakorian Bennett was a pleasant surprise for the Las Vegas Raiders last season. After getting benched due to poor play as a rookie, he stepped up and was the team's best cornerback before getting hurt.

However, he was stuck playing with backups during much of training camp and couldn't break into the starting lineup. Now it's clear that the Raiders didn't think he was a good fit anymore.

Raiders Trade Bennett to Eagles

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Raiders have traded Bennett to the Philadelphia Eagles for defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV. Even with Bennett not playing with the starters, this is a pretty surprising trade.

Trade: Raiders are sending CB Jakorian Bennett to the Eagles in exchange for DT Thomas Booker IV, per sources. pic.twitter.com/xB5ghtfC6c
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 5, 2025

The former fourth-round pick looked like an up-and-coming lockdown cornerback last season. Patrick Graham is still the defensive coordinator, and he has been high on Bennett. The problem facing him is that he's smaller than what head coach Pete Carroll likes at cornerback.

Bennett has blazing speed, but is only 5-foot-11. He shouldn't hang his head too low because now he gets to go play in one of the best defenses in football on the defending Super Bowl champions.

Can Booker Help Replace Wilkins

This trade might not have materialized had Christian Wilkins not been cut by the Raiders. With a need at defensive tackle, Las Vegas had to make a move.

Booker hasn't gotten many starts thanks to the Eagles' deep group of defensive tackles, but he did get consistent snaps last season. He'll now be able to compete for a starting job on the Raiders.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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