NFL Trade Deadline: Could Philadelphia Eagles still trade Halapoulivaati Vaitai?

One recent theory on possible NFL trades states the Philadelphia Eagles could still move Halapoulivaati Vaitai via trade.

It’s long been known that Jason Peters, regardless of the constant recent personal failures he’s had with his body, will be the Philadelphia Eagles starting left tackle until he decides to hang the cleats up. If you haven’t learned anything else about this team, you should have learned that by now. Philly seems to be satisfied with what they’ve seen from rookie incumbent Andre Dillard, so that leads us all to the same question. What happens with Halapoulivaati Vaitai?

Before the season, there were quite a few theories that Philly would move on from ‘Big V’, but then, another idea struck. Why not cross-train him?

Over the Spring and Summer, that decision seemed to be a good one as Vaitai developed a penchant for the guard position, but with Philly’s starting lineup seemingly set with Peters, Isaac Seumalo, Jason Kelce, Brandon Brooks, and Lane Johnson, Vaitai’s, at best, a decent reserve, not a great one.

Unlike Nelson Agholor, who aside from a recent theory by one NFL writer seems to have seen his trade value evaporate is probably all but gone (and the same could be said about his career), several teams may have some interest. Could a possible trade with the Cleveland Browns be in play?

Charles Robinson, an NFL columnist for Yahoo Sports, thinks that would be a nice move for ‘The Birds’. That is if the Browns are unable to capitalize on two other more attractive ideas for the franchise. Take a look at his theory.

"Option number three for Dorsey would be more of a bargain move for depth and flexibility, (and includes) targeting one of the Eagles’ offensive tackles, specifically backup Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who has starting experience at tackle and also the flexibility to play guard if needed. Vaitai is in the last year of his rookie deal and has been the odd man out in an offensive tackle quartet that includes top-end starters Jason Peters and Lane Johnson, as well as rookie Andre Dillard."

Robinson’s idea centers around the idea that Cleveland would, first, fail at landing either the Washington Redskins‘ Trent Williams or the New York Giants‘ Nate Solder. Neither of those theories helps ‘The Birds’ too much. Still, with all the holes that Philly needs to fill starting a discussion with the Browns could be beneficial for two reasons.

One, this is one of those rare occurrences where the Eagles aren’t the more desperate team in the equation, and second, maybe they can poach some of that good defensive talent that the Browns have stacked over the past few seasons or they can land a draft choice or two. It would seem the latter option is more likely though. Then again, a speedster like Antonio Callaway would look nice in Eagles green too.