Eagles still want to trade Alshon Jeffery, the sky is still blue

The Philadelphia Eagles are once again trying to find a taker for wide receiver Alshon Jeffery

Back in 2017, the Philadelphia Eagles made the big move to acquire wide receiver Alshon Jeffery from the Chicago Bears to help put their team over the edge. It paid off tremendously, as the team went on to win their first-ever Super Bowl at season’s end. After that campaign, the Jeffery honeymoon in Philly was over, as evidenced by the team actively trying to trade him prior to last season, but to no avail.

According to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Eagles are once again trying to flip the veteran wideout. But as McLane points out, that could prove to be a challenge, as Jeffery’s owed $9.9 million in base salary plus he’s yet to participate in team training camp after undergoing Lisfranc surgery this offseason.

A Jeffery trade is highly improbable

The Eagles were the best team in the league during the 2017 NFL season, and plenty of credit could be given to the addition of Jeffery to the offense. With the top seed in the NFC clinched prior to the end of the season, Philadelphia gave Jeffery a four-year, $52.3 million contract extension. That has been a bad omen ever since.

During the 2018 postseason, the Eagles were mounting what could’ve been a miraculous comeback against the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Divisional Round, but a dropped pass from Nick Foles to Jeffery landed in the hands of cornerback Marshon Lattimore for the interception to seal the game. Last year, Jeffery’s overall production dropped due to a variety of ailments and was ultimately placed on the season-ending injured reserve with his foot injury.

Jeffery hasn’t took part in a single practice this summer and is likely starting off the 2020 campaign on the physically unable to perform list. Even by attempting to trade him, it couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Eagles. First-round pick Jalen Reagor suffered a shoulder injury that will likely keep him out for a maximum of one month, and trade acquisition Marquise Goodwin opted out for the season due to COVID-19 concerns.

The only way the Eagles can feasibly trade Jeffery is if he makes an immediate on-field impact prior to the 2020 trade deadline. If not, the Eagles will have to keep Jeffery on the roster for another season.