Ravens Trade Timmy Jernigan, Draft Pick to Eagles in Exchange for 3rd-Round Pick

Rather than sign Timmy Jernigan to a long-term contract, the Baltimore Ravens traded the defensive tackle to the Philadelphia Eagles. 

The Eagles announced they acquired Jernigan and the 99th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft from the Ravens for the 74th overall pick in this year's draft. 

"This will allow our young group of (defensive linemen) an opportunity to compete and play," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said in a statement, per Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.

The Ravens took advantage of the new rule allowing teams to trade compensatory picks for the first time this year to make the Jernigan deal, per Zrebiec.

Per ESPN's Adam Caplan, the Eagles needed to add depth at defensive tackle after Bennie Logan signed with the Kansas City Chiefs last month. Jernigan is coming off the best season of his career. The 24-year-old set career highs in starts (15), passes defensed (three), sacks (five) and interceptions (one). 

Vinnie Ronca of Pro Football Focus noted Jernigan's run-stop percentage of 10.8 was the best among defensive tackles last season.

He is set to become a free agent at the end of next season but has a team-friendly cap hit of $1.4 million in 2017, per Spotrac, that undoubtedly made him a more attractive option for the Eagles.