The Philadelphia Eagles entered the 2026 season as recent Super Bowl champions but sit at 2-2 after four games, dealing with injuries and uneven play on both sides of the ball. That record has sparked talk that the club could shift from buyer to seller ahead of the Nov. 3 trade deadline.
Reporter Jimmy Kempski floated several names on social media this week if Philadelphia decides to deal.
“Already thinking about who might be available if the Eagles are sellers at the deadline (I’d say Goedert, Nolan, Riq, Ojomo would be guys who can get you a nice return, to varying degrees.),” Kempski wrote.
One name drawing attention is edge rusher Nolan Smith Jr. The 25-year-old is in his fourth NFL season and remains under contract through 2027 after the team exercised his fifth-year option this spring.
Smith has led the Eagles in sacks so far this year. He has recorded two sacks, eight combined tackles and two quarterback hits through four games, according to league tracking.
Those numbers come on a defense that has not matched its production from the title run two seasons ago. Philadelphia’s pass rush has generated pressure at a lower rate early in the schedule, and Smith’s output stands out relative to the rest of the front.
Over his career, Smith has totaled 12.5 regular-season sacks. He posted 6.5 in 2024, when he started 10 games and added four more sacks in the postseason during the Super Bowl run, then managed three in 12 games last year while dealing with a triceps injury.
Pro Football Focus graded him at 62.4 overall through the early portion of 2026, ranking him 60th among qualified edge defenders. He has generated nine pressures on 196 snaps.
The Eagles have invested recent draft capital and free-agent money along the defensive line, including additions that pushed younger players into rotation roles. That depth could make a player still on a rookie-scale deal more movable if the front office prioritizes future flexibility.
Dallas Goedert and cornerback Riq Woolen are also under short-term contracts and have been mentioned in the same discussions. Both are scheduled to hit free agency after this season, which typically raises their trade value for contending clubs seeking immediate help.
Smith’s situation differs because his deal runs one more year. Moving him now would return draft capital rather than risk losing him for a compensatory pick later, a calculation several teams have made with similar edge rushers in recent deadlines.
Philadelphia already completed one notable deal this week, sending center Cam Jurgens to the Baltimore Ravens. That transaction, paired with the recent retirement of tackle Lane Johnson, has fueled speculation that general manager Howie Roseman is open to further roster adjustments.
The Eagles face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in London. Smith’s snap count and production in that game could influence how aggressively other clubs pursue him if talks develop.
League sources have not confirmed any active negotiations involving Smith. His combination of age, remaining contract control and current sack total simply places him among the more logical candidates if Philadelphia chooses to sell.
