After starting the season undefeated, the Philadelphia Eagles find themselves in the midst of a two-game losing streak. One of their biggest weaknesses, the defensive end position, was magnified after Za’Darius Smith unexpectedly retired. There is hope, though, as the Eagles have many options on the trade market. Here are three players they could trade for to bolster their roster before the trade deadline.
Three Potential Trade Targets for the Philadelphia Eagles
Sep 14, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) celebrates the win after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
Trey Hendrickson
Trey Hendrickson will be the most splashy name on this list, as he is one of the premier pass rushers in the NFL. Hendrickson led the entire NFL in sacks in the 2024 season, registering 17.5 while playing all 17 games. While Hendrickson is currently injured, it is not expected to be a long-term injury. With the
Cincinnati Bengals’ season on the verge of spiraling out of control, they would have to consider being sellers at the trade deadline if they fall out of contention. Hendrickson is playing on the last year of his contract, and after a dramatic contract dispute before the season, it’s a foregone conclusion he won’t be returning to Cincinnati in 2026. In a potentially lost season, it may make the most sense to trade him. Rumors have already begun about his availability as well, with the Eagles being in the mix.
Bradley Chubb
Although not a superstar, Bradley Chubb is another well-known name who could drastically improve the Eagles’ pass rush. Chubb registered 11 sacks in 16 games last year, while already having four sacks this season. He also has another very important link to the Philadelphia Eagles, which could help facilitate a trade:
Vic Fangio.
Chubb started his career as a Denver Bronco, where Fangio was the head coach from 2019-2021. Fangio was also the defensive coordinator for the
Miami Dolphins during the 2023 season, Chubb’s current team. There is definitely familiarity between the two, and that could go a long way to having him up to speed and ready to play quickly. The Dolphins’ season is already lost at 1-5. They likely will have a new coach next season, so stockpiling draft picks to start fresh next season is likely something the Dolphins would consider.
Jermaine Johnson
With the
New York Jets being 0-6, naturally, they will be a team looking to sell. The first name that stands out is edge rusher Jermaine Johnson. Johnson has had his ups and downs in his career. He broke out in his sophomore season, with seven and a half sacks and a Pro Bowl appearance. Unfortunately, he only played two games in 2024 after suffering an Achilles injury. He has appeared in three games this season and has registered one sack. The Jets also accepted the team option on his contract for the 2026 season, so he would also be a piece for the Eagles beyond this season.
Johnson, like Chubb, also has a connection with the Eagles. Johnson was drafted as a first-round pick by the Jets in 2022 by Joe Douglas, who was the Jets’ general manager at the time. Douglas is now in the Eagles’ front office. Douglas could persuade
Howie Roseman to pursue a trade for his former first-round pick.
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