Every NFL season, right around voluntary OTA’s, we see some NFL player holding out to redo their contracts. Some get traded and some get what they want, which is the big raise they were looking for. Well for the first time in a long time, the Philadelphia Eagles are the latest team with a player wanting a raise. Back in the middle of May, reports surfaced that Malcolm Jenkins was not going to report to the voluntary OTA’s. When these reports came out, a few sportswriters wrote about why the Eagles should trade Malcolm Jenkins for Jadeveon Clowney of the Houston Texans. Let me break down why the Philadelphia Eagles shouldn’t trade Malcolm Jenkins.
Pay the man Damn it!!!! Don’t trade Malcolm Jenkins
First off they still have Jenkins under contract this year and next. Clowney hasn’t even signed his franchise tag yet. Also, Malcolm Jenkins is the heart and soul of that defense. He’s the one giving the pep talks before running out before a game. He’s the one rallying the troops when things aren’t going right. The last player to be that player? Some guy named Brian Dawkins. If the Eagles are smart, they should look back in history and see how it turned out when they let Dawkins walk. After he left, the safety position was a revolving door until 2014. That’s when Jenkins came to Philly. The only knock on Jenkins is age. He’s 31. Unlike some players after the age of 30, his stats have gotten better in the past three years. He also played every defensive snap last year. That’s a big piece to lose. With roughly $21-$22 million in cap space throw him 2-3 million. He would be in the top 3 in safeties salary. He even stated he doesn’t want to be the top paid.
Houston, we have a no go on the Malcolm Jenkins trade.
Now onto why Jadeveon Clowney wouldn’t be a good pick up. Were do I start? First off he has only finished one full season in five years. Clowney’s franchise tag is set at $16 million. So if Philly has $21-$22 million in cap space, that would only leave $5-$6 million in cap space to sign Zach Ertz and Lane Johnson to extensions, which are up in 2021. Also, let’s say we do trade for him, you’re going to pay $16 million for one year, with hopes of signing him to an extension. Our depth on the front line also raises a no thank you. The Eagles already have Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, Vinny Curry, and Shareef Miller. So you’re going to pay him all that money to be the fourth string defensive end? I don’t think so. Clowney has yet to live up to his 1st overall draft pick. Ya, he has back to back years with nine sacks in a season. But is that enough to go all in and trade Malcolm Jenkins for him?
Who do you think we are? Mike Ditka?
Then the final part that is a no go for why I wouldn’t trade Malcolm Jenkins is what we would have to send to Houston. We would have to match what the Chiefs sent to Seattle for Frank Clark. The Chiefs sent this past drafts 1st rounder, next years 2nd round pick, as well as exchanging 3rd round picks. That’s a steep price to send especially since Philly has had only 10 draft picks in the past two drafts combined. You would be basically betting on your future now because it would take two to three years to get back on track. By that point, the Carson Wentz lead super bowl window may be closed.
In the end, how this story ends is very simple. Keep and pay the man. I mean I understand the NFL is a business, but when you needed salary cap help he was one of them that helped. The fact that Jeffery Lurie sat down with Jenkins tells me at some point he will get paid. Also, please Philly go back and look what happened to us when you let B-Dawk walk and go to Denver. Don’t repeat history and trade, Malcolm Jenkins.
Until next time this is your good friend Jimbo signing out.
Follow me @JimboSTSports and my show @STSportsPodcast
