NFL Trade Rumors: How Expendable Is Asante Samuel to the Philadelphia Eagles?

For the second time this season, the Philadelphia Eagles have made veteran cornerback Asante Samuel available for trade.

And for the second time, he won't likely go anywhere. But that doesn't change the fact that they are extremely willing to part with the longtime Eagle, even though he is currently a starter.

Samuel starts alongside fellow corner Nnamdi Asomugha, with the third, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, assisting the two against big-play receivers or covering the middle of the field. Considering the advantages to having three start-worthy corners on the team, it comes as some surprise that the Eagles are working so hard to move Samuel.

The most likely reason for this is simply because the Eagles need personnel, just not in the secondary. They have issues with their defensive front, and high-caliber starters just aren't available in the free agent market. The only way to improve immediately is via trade.

Samuel is the likely candidate for a trade simply because his price tag is so high (he has $18.8 million coming to him in the final two years of his contract), and if the Eagles can move that contract onto another team, they will free up valuable cap space.

All of those high-profile free agent pickups the team made in the offseason come with a hefty price, and if they can replace an expensive player like Samuel with two players who are cheaper, they should do so.

There is no shortage of teams that could benefit from Samuel's services, even if his production has dipped with age. And considering the Eagles have youth, speed and talent in Rodgers-Cromartie and Asomugha, Samuel is the most expendable high-value player on their defense.

While Samuel probably won't have a new home by the time the clock strikes four in Philadelphia today, it is very clear what the team wants their secondary to look like after 2011.