ESPN analyst pitches wild Saquon Barkley trade idea for Eagles that actually makes sense

1 week ago 11

Unfortunately, the 2026 season for the Philadelphia Eagles is likely already over. Before Week 7, the Eagles have seen too many key players miss time or are set to miss the rest of the regular season.

Lane Johnson retired, and Jalen Hurts will be out for the rest of the season due to a serious blood clot issue. It's been a nightmare season for the Eagles. So, why not lean into it and be major sellers at the trade deadline? Howie Roseman could surely do it.

ESPN's Ben Solak pitched a few trades the Eagles could make, including one crazy one that would send Saquon Barkley to the Houston Texans. While it's a crazy trade idea, it might actually make sense for the Eagles based on his projected return and the outlook going forward for this franchise.

Eagles get wild Saquon Barkley trade idea that actually makes sense

"RB Saquon Barkley to the Texans for a 2027 third-round pick, a 2027 fifth-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and RB Woody Marks," Solak proposed.

Trading Barkley would be a massive ordeal for the Eagles. Not only would they be moving on from a player who put together one of the best seasons in franchise history in 2024, leading the team to the Super Bowl, but a trade would be very costly.

If the Eagles trade Barkley during the 2026 season, they would be forced to take on a massive $26.5 million in dead cap. They're already saddled with $27.1 million in dead cap from the A.J. Brown trade, so doubling that would put a strain on their cap space.

However, this potential trade return from the Texans could make up for the massive cost of moving on from Barkley mid-season.

MORE: Cam Skattebo's lack of rushing attempts is a major cause for concern for Giants

Marks would pair nicely with Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley in this backfield going forward this season, while the draft pick haul would be very appealing.

Getting a first-round pick would obviously be ideal, but it's hard to imagine any running back at Barkley's age, and considering his hamstring injury issues this season, landing a first-round pick.

But a future second-rounder, along with a third- and fifth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, would be quite the haul even without a first-rounder.

Roseman isn't likely to trade Barkley due to the fan backlash and the massive cap hit the team would take on. But if there were ever a deal to move the needle enough to make a trade make sense, it would be this proposed one from Solak.