Eagles Make a Trade with the Raiders

The Eagles are always busy with moves and trades.

On Monday night, they dealt interior defensive lineman Thomas Booker to the Raiders in exchange for cornerback Jacolian Bennett. Booker, who is 25, was picked by the Texans in the fifth round of the 2022 draft. He later became part of the Eagles’ rotation as they won the Super Bowl last season.

Booker played in all 21 games for Philadelphia, including the playoffs, but he never started. The starting roles went to Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, who really took up space in the lineup.

Bennett, 24, is seen as a promising young cornerback. He has started 11 games over the past two seasons after being a fourth-round selection from Maryland in 2023. Some fans were notably upset with this trade.

Bennett stands out because, last season, he was the only cornerback in the NFL with over 300 defensive snaps who did not allow a touchdown. He also had a passer rating allowed of below 70 and less than 5.5 yards per target when teams tried to throw his way.

In the NFL, having a solid depth of cornerbacks is crucial, especially for stopping passes.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is considered one of the sharpest traders in the league. Meanwhile, the Raiders have drawn criticism for their recent decisions under new management, which includes minority owner Tom Brady and rookie GM John Spiteku. Many observers have been scratching their heads over the Raiders’ latest moves.

There has been some backlash directed at the Raiders for letting go of Byron Young, a defensive lineman who ended up in Philadelphia—a decision that raised eyebrows among fans.

Interestingly, while the Eagles boasted the number one coverage grade in the league last season, according to Pro Football Focus, the Raiders found themselves at the very bottom in the same category.