Philadelphia Eagles Trade Targets: Safety Jeremy Chinn
Keep an eye on Jeremy Chinn of the Carolina Panthers as a candidate to land with the Philadelphia Eagles before the 2023 NFL season begins.
The safety position looks thin. Reed Blankenship, Terrell Edmunds, and Sydney Brown will all compete for starting roles, but will Howie Roseman feel comfortable entering the season with serious question marks on the back end of the secondary?
Howie Roseman Open To Trades
Zach Berman spoke on The John Kincade Show about Roseman’s likelihood to make a trade.
“Just knowing Howie…he doesn’t view the roster building as ending draft weekend. He doesn’t view it just like cutdown day (and) that’s your group. He’s going to be responsive. He’s going to be dynamic in that regard.” -Zach Berman
Budda Baker is the attractive trade target that will draw the most fan attention. However, a move to acquire the star safety from the Arizona Cardinals would be difficult because of his $13.1 million salary in 2023 and a potentially steep return package.
Chinn, meanwhile, only carries a $3.35 million cap hit with $2.92 million in base salary in 2023 on the final year of his rookie contract. A potential trade would mirror the decision to acquire C.J. Gardner-Johnson in 2022.
Berman has also pointed out shrewd moves in Roseman’s past to acquire Timmy Jernigan in 2017 and Jordan Howard in 2019 for minimal draft compensation when the respective players were entering the final season of their rookie contracts.
The leverage in these situations tends to favor the Eagles. Mid or late-round draft compensation will sometimes get a deal done for a team afraid to lose a player in free agency after only one more season.
The Panthers are also in a potentially vulnerable position after trading premium picks for the chance to select Bryce Young.
Jeremy Chinn: Fit With The Eagles
It’s one of the most interesting decisions in franchise history with the benefit of hindsight. Howie Roseman considered selecting Jeremy Chinn with the 53rd-overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
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Naturally, Eagles fans will wonder what the team would look like without Jalen Hurts. However, they should actually think about a scenario when the Eagles somehow land both.
Frank Reich is the new head coach in Carolina, and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero will implement a 3-4 scheme.
“Jeremy Chinn makes a lot of sense with the new coaching staff (for the Carolina Panthers) because they’ve added safeties there. They’re trying to figure out: Is he a smaller linebacker? Is he a bigger safety?” -Berman
Evero’s plan to play Chinn closer to the line of scrimmage might not be the smoothest transition. The addition of pricey free agent Vonn Bell also indicates a clear shift in Carolina’s priority at the safety position.
Chinn finished second in the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2020 behind the overwhelming favorite Chase Young. He has started 42 games in three NFL seasons.
He isn’t likely to play ball hawk and match Gardner-Johnson’s impressive total of six interceptions last season. However, the 6-foot-3, 221-pounder can solidify the defensive backfield in all situations with a sense of stability that isn’t present on the current Eagles roster.
Roseman saw a questionable group of cornerbacks during training camp in 2017. He made a deal for Ronald Darby. Five years later, the safety position looked thin. Roseman dealt for Gardner-Johnson.
If the Eagles want to make their third trip to the Super Bowl in seven seasons, they should pounce on the opportunity to acquire Jeremy Chinn from the Panthers.
Watch The John Kincade Show live on the 97.5 The Fanatic YouTube page on weekday mornings from 6am-10am.
9 Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp Dates To Know
Preseason Finale- August 24
The NFL preseason finale isn’t the most dazzling football you’ll ever watch.
However, Eagles fans can still point to one of the most impactful final roster decisions in franchise history as a reason why the game can actually matter.
Corey Clement snuck onto the 2017 roster and later went for 100 yards in Super Bowl LII.
The Birds wrap up the preseason at home on Thursday, August 24 against the Indianapolis Colts at 8 pm.
Final Cuts- August 29
NFL teams trim the rosters from 90 to 53 on August 29.
The announced rosters, however, don’t always last until opening day. Surprise cuts frequently find ways onto other rosters in the final days of August or early September.
