12th Man Rising
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5 players Seahawks could target before the trade deadline

By Geoff Shull

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 29: Defensive Tackle Fletcher Cox #91 of the Philadelphia Eagles follows the action against the New York Giants in the rain in the first half at MetLife Stadium on December 29, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 29: Defensive Tackle Fletcher Cox #91 of the Philadelphia Eagles follows the action against the New York Giants in the rain in the first half at MetLife Stadium on December 29, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Trade Target: Fletcher Cox, DT

Another meaty trade. In any other world, this trade would be a ‘hard no’ as soon as Fletcher Cox’s name was mentioned. However, the Eagles are in salary cap hell and don’t appear to be close to escaping anytime soon.

The Eagles have also been stuck in mediocrity since their last Super Bowl appearance. Let me explain how bad the Eagles salary cap situation is. With the cap likely going down next year due to the inability to house fans in the stands, the team is over the cap by $68 million in 2021. Just to be sure you read that right, I said over the cap by $68 million.

The only ways they can get under is by trading, cutting and reconstructing players’ contracts. Cutting gives the team no value in return. Trading offers some return on the players. However, opposing teams know blood is in the water and the troubles the Eagles are about to endure so the offers will all be low balled.

Finally, reconstructing. The team has a very old roster signed to long term deals. Quite a few of the team’s largest contracts would actually cost the Eagles more salary cap by cutting or trading them. Players like Lane Johnson, Darius Slay, Brandon Graham, Brandon Brooks, and Malik Jackson are all examples.

They are all also on the wrong side of 30. So by reconstructing their contracts, it further ties the team to its aging stars going into the future. Reconstructing turns non guaranteed money and salary cap today into guaranteed money tomorrow. As I said, they are in a serious case of salary cap hell.

If I were the Seattle Seahawks, I would throw out a low ball offer for Fletcher Cox. He is 30 years old and still a dynamic athlete. The Eagles would save millions off their books by moving on from him. The rebuild could begin.

This would offer Seattle one of the best defensive lineman in the NFL for just a fraction of the cost. This is of course contingent on the Eagles continuing to lose.

It is also possible this deal happens after the season is already over. Just in the off chance that Eagles want to give this roster one more go before having to dismantle the entire team.

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