PHILADELPHIA − The Eagles are making their third trade within the last four days. This time, they’re adding a much-needed pass rusher in the Dolphins‘ Jaelan Phillips.
ESPN first reported the deal in which the Eagles are giving up a third-round draft pick in 2026 to acquire Phillips, who was the Dolphins’ first-round pick in 2021 (No. 18 overall).
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Phillips also has familiarity with Eagles’ defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who was the Dolphins’ DC in 2023, when Phillips was having his best season, with 6.5 sacks in 8 games.
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Jaelan Phillips trade details
The Eagles are sending the Dolphins a third-round pick in 2026 for Phillips. The Eagles are expected to have three picks in that round next season, the result of likely getting a compensatory pick at the end of the round for losing defensive tackle Milton Williams to free agency last spring.
The Eagles also got an extra third-round pick for trading Haason Reddick to the Jets in the spring of 2024.
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What Eagles get in trade
The Eagles are getting a potential star edge rusher in Phillips, but one with a history of injuries over the previous two seasons.
During Phillips’s career year in 2023, he tore his Achilles midway through and missed the rest of the season. He came back for the 2024 season, but tore his ACL four games into it, and missed the rest of that season.
Phillips, however, has been healthy this season. He has played in all 9 games with 3 sacks. All of those sacks have come in the last five games, a sign that he might have put the injuries behind him.
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Jaelan Phillips trade grade
It’s hard to argue with getting an edge rusher of Phillips’ caliber. The Eagles were short-handed at the position, mainly because of injuries and Za’Darius Smith’s unexpected retirement on Oct. 13.
The Eagles needed more even though Brandon Graham is un-retiring and Nolan Smith is expected to come off injured reserve in time for the Eagles’ next game, Nov. 10 against Green Bay. They join a unit that consists of Jalyx Hunt (1 sack), Joshua Uche (0 sacks) and Patrick Johnson (1 sack), who’s primarily a special teams player.
Za’Darius Smith is still the unit’s sack leader, and he retired with just 1 ½. If Phillips can come on strong in the second half, the Eagles will have a steal, despite giving up a coveted Day 2 draft pick.
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Grade: A-
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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles trade for DE Jaelan Phillips with grade, reaction, analysis