The Philadelphia Eagles have had a season-long dilemma at No. 2 cornerback, and general manager Howie Roseman just created a flurry of options.
The Eagles’ trade for New York Jets cornerback Michael Carter II this week could be an instant game-changer. If anything, the move allows defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to deploy Cooper DeJean like the true chess piece that he is. Carter played almost exclusively in the slot for the Jets this season, and his presence should allow DeJean to get more snaps on the boundary, addressing the team’s biggest need.
The potential impact of Carter is intriguing, even if it could take a few games for the defense to evolve.
The domino effect on offense, though, is a sneaky-big storyline that few people are talking about.
In the deal for Carter, the Eagles shipped out wide receiver John Metchie III, who struggled to carve out a consistent role as Philly’s No. 4 wide receiver; he played just 31 total offensive snaps in seven games, per Pro Football Focus, and managed four total receptions for 18 yards.
Philadelphia’s decision to move on from a 25-year-old receiver — a week after A.J. Brown surprisingly missed a game due to a hamstring issue — actually speaks volumes. The biggest winner from this entire trade might be the fan favorite who quietly returned from a four-game absence in Sunday’s win over the Giants.
Eagles-Jets trade proves the arrow’s pointing up on rookie WR Darius Cooper
Eagles fans probably barely noticed Darius Cooper last week. He’s been out since Week 3 with a shoulder injury, and wasn’t targeted in a game that saw Jalen Hurts attempt only 20 passes.
The rookie did, however, play 26 snaps in Philly’s 38-20 win over the Giants, which was easily a career high. With Brown inactive, he operated as the clear WR3 behind DeVonta Smith and Jahan Dotson; Metchie only played nine snaps in his final game as an Eagle.
The Athletic’s Zach Berman views the team’s decision to trade Metchie as a clear endorsement of Cooper, a training camp star whose role stands to grow over the second half of the season.
“It stood out to me that the Eagles started Cooper’s practice window last Thursday when it appeared A.J. Brown’s playing status was in question. That move was made to have Cooper ready to play against the Giants, which he did. Cooper does not yet have a catch in the regular season, but he’s now the Eagles’ clear No. 4 wide receiver. And if Brown, DeVonta Smith, or Jahan Dotson misses time, Cooper would be a starter. Not bad for an undrafted rookie from Tarleton State.”
Wide receiver has typically been a hot-button topic for the Eagles around the trade deadline, but the insider chatter feels quieter than years past. Roseman feels more likely to make another savvy move for a pass rusher than he is to swing big on offense; that group made considerable strides in wins over the Vikings and Giants prior to the bye week.
Read more: Eagles could ignite pass rush with savvy trade no one’s talking about
We’ll see what transpires before Tuesday’s trade deadline, but Cooper feels firmly entrenched as Hurts’ No. 4 wide receiver with room to grow. Unlike Metchie, Cooper has carved out a clear role — 63 percent of his offensive snaps this season have come on rushing plays, per PFF.