We're hours away from the start of the 2020 NFL Draft, and the Eagles rumor mill is heating up something serious.
The Eagles own the No. 21 pick, and most draft observers expect a run on the elite wide receivers in the draft to begin around the No. 11 pick. If the Eagles want one of CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy, or Henry Ruggs, they'll likely have to trade up.
Two names have suddenly cropped up in potential trade talks: second-year left tackle Andre Dillard, and cornerback Rasul Douglas.
The Dillard intrigue comes courtesy of New York Daily News Jets reporter Manish Mehta, who tweeted this out of the blue on Thursday afternoon:
Dillard's name was also tossed around in trade talks earlier this offseason, before the Eagles made the decision to mutually part ways with Jason Peters this offseason.
For what it's worth, NFL and Eagles insider Adam Caplan shared this tweet after Eagles fans started wondering if Dillard could be part of an Eagles package to move up to No. 11 and grab a wide receiver:
I don't doubt that Dillard is in the Eagles plans, right now. But plans can change. Dillard looked solid, if not spectacular, during his playing time last season, and we've heard rumblings here and there about organizational concerns surrounding the 24-year-old.
Still, trading Dillard one year after making him your first-round pick and right after letting your franchise left tackle hit the market seems a bit odd.
NFL
So what about that Rasul Douglas rumor, then?
ESPN's Jets reporter, Rich Cimini, floated an interesting nugget about a different way the Eagles could potentially move up to the No. 11 pick in a deal with New York:
Unconfirmed rumor about the Jets swapping picks with Philly (21) and acquiring CB Rasul Douglas + pick. Douglas is a borderline starter, but he was drafted by Joe Douglas.
Cimini noted that the Jets would likely only look to trade down if all four top-tier offensive tackles are off the board in the first 10 picks.
From an Eagles standpoint, trading Rasul Douglas and the No. 21 pick for a potential franchise wide receiver is an absolute no-brainer, and frankly feels a little thin. Douglas, 24, has shown flashes of playmaking ability, but he's certainly not a guaranteed starter-level cornerback in the NFL.
In any case, two separate trade rumors about the Eagles eyeing that No. 11 pick suggest there's something afoot.
It certainly is interesting that the Eagles and Jets are at the center of spicy trade talks, considering the Super Bowl history Howie Roseman and Jets general manager Joe Douglas have from their time together in Philadelphia. It helps to have friends around the league.
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