Eagles Trade Rumors: Philadelphia Among 6 Teams to Call About CB Chris Harris Jr
October 29, 2019
The Philadelphia Eagles reportedly have interest in acquiring Denver Broncos veteran cornerback Chris Harris Jr. ahead of Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET NFL trade deadline, though they aren't alone in that pursuit, according to multiple reports:
Troy Renck @TroyRenckAgain, as said last few days, #Eagles are team to watch. Will they meet #Broncos' asking price? Multiple teams are calling. Remember, Harris will become free agent at year's end. That's part of equation. He's not signing deal with new team w/o testing free agency. #Denver7 https://t.co/Q5VXgKK0ld
For an Eagles team that has been beset by injuries at the cornerback position this season, Harris would be an upgrade. They have gotten healthier at the position in recent weeks, with players like Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby returning to the starting lineup and slot corner Avonte Maddox expected to return in the coming weeks.
But the Eagles have also gotten decimated by opposing passing attacks this season, ranking 21st in passing yards allowed per game (256.1) and 27th in total passing touchdowns allowed (16).
Harris may not be the only cornerback the Eagles explore acquiring in a trade, with multiple reports suggesting that the Detroit Lions are fielding calls on star corner Darius Slay, and the Eagles are among the teams dialing:
Adam Schefter @AdamSchefterHere’s another name that bears watching as Tuesday’s trade deadline approaches: Lions’ CB Darius Slay, per league sources. Lions have gotten calls about Slay, though it would take a lot to pry him out of Detroit. But if there’s a CB-needy team out there, Slay will draw interest.
Harris would come cheaper than Slay, though, in part because he'll be a free agent after the season. That makes him potentially a half-season rental, though for teams with Super Bowl aspirations, it's the sort of move that will be more than palpable at the right price.
The 30-year-old Harris is a four-time Pro Bowler and 2016 first-team All-Pro selection. This season he's registered 22 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and four passes defensed. For cornerback-needy teams, he'd be a very solid addition.
And for a 2-6 Broncos team almost assuredly out of the playoff conversation, getting back draft capital for a veteran player who can sign elsewhere in the offseason would be the logical move.