Possible post-draft additions the Philadelphia Eagles need to consider

The Eagles need to find a way to improve their secondary, and this All-Pro safety could help them.

After losing out on the Tyrann Mathieu sweepstakes and watching the New Orleans Saints claim the prize, the Eagles need to find a way to improve their secondary for the long term. Their starting safeties are currently Anthony Harris, who is on a one-year, “prove it” deal, and K’Von Wallace, who has shown promise but hasn’t taken the next step to becoming an elite safety.

Jessie Bates III could be the present and future cornerstone for the Birds, but only if they can pry him away from the Super Bowl runner-ups, the Cincinnati Bengals. While this seems unrealistic, it is not too crazy to imagine the Bengals dealing Bates. He is currently on a franchise tag, and as the Bengals’ front office continues to work on ways to protect and help their star quarterback in Joe Burrow, money will begin to dry up, and Cincy could be forced to trade him.

The Eagles would, more than likely, have to give up at least one of their first-round picks in next year’s draft and sign Bates to an extension. Since Bates is on a franchise tag, other players are not permitted to be involved in the trade, so the Eagles would have to rely solely on draft capital to get the job done.

Bates may be worth the steep price, as he has raked in ten total interceptions and two forced fumbles over his four-year career, which is something the Eagles were missing in their secondary last year.  He had a down year in 2021, with only 88 tackles and an interception, both career lows, which could work in the Eagles’ favor and lower his trade value.