Philadelphia Eagles Flip Terrell Edmunds And Draft Picks For 2-Time Pro Bowl Safety

The Philadelphia Eagles are making a major trade a week before the trade deadline.

The Eagles are getting started on adding pieces for another Super Bowl run this season, acquiring two-time Pro Bowl and two-time All-Pro safety Kevin Byard from the Tennessee Titans. In exchange for Byard, the Eagles are trading Terrell Edmunds — who had started two of his seven appearances — and 2024 fifth and sixth-round picks to the Titans.

Via Dianna Russini of The Athletic:

“The Tennessee Titans are trading All-Pro defensive back Kevin Byard to the Philadelphia Eagles,” writes Russini. “The Eagles will be sending the Titans a 2024 5th and 6th rounder and safety Terrell Edmunds, per multiple league sources.”

Byard is one of the top safeties in the NFL. The 30-year-old veteran posted 108 tackles and four interceptions last season, leading the team in both tackles and interceptions.

According to Pro Football Focus, Byard posted a 79.5 defensive grade last season, ranking ninth among all safeties with at least 500 defensive snaps. As PFF also mentions, his 92.3 coverage grade is the highest among all safeties since the 2020 season.

He’ll immediately step in as the starting strong safety for the Eagles.

The move is notable for both teams. The Eagles were clearly looking for an upgrade at safety with the position being arguably their biggest weakness on defense. Free safety Reed Blankenship missed the team’s win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 7 due to a rib injury. Meanwhile, starting strong safety Justin Evans has missed the last three games and is currently on injured reserve due to a knee injury.

As Russini reported prior to Week 7, the Eagles had been looking to upgrade at safety via trade.

“Eagles general manager Howie Roseman always has some magic up his sleeve, and he’s been working the phone,” writes Russini. “The Eagles are apparently staying put on running back Rashaad Penny, knowing depth will be necessary for a team that should be making a long postseason run. Philly is looking to make some additions on defense after they suffered a handful of injuries in the defensive backfield, specifically targeting a safety.”

Outside of injuries, play at the strong safety position just has not been strong following the offseason departures of C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Marcus Epps. According to PFF
PFF
, Evans has posted a 63.1 defensive grade —48th among all safeties — and Edmunds has posted a 59.7 defensive grade — 61st among all safeties — this season.

In the Titans’ case, the move to trade their top defensive player could signal that the team will be sellers at the trade deadline. Tennessee is currently 2-4 and quarterback Ryan Tannehill and running back Derrick Henry are names that have been mentioned as possible trade deadline candidates.

Byard has one year left remaining as part of a five-year, $70.5 million contract extension he signed with the Titans prior to the start of the 2019 season. However, he can be released with zero money on the dead cap hit during the 2024 offseason.