Eagles Have No Reason to Trade Saquon Barkley, Especially for This Package

It's been a very ugly start to the season for the Philadelphia Eagles, but it's still important to remember this team is 2-3, and the year isn't over. 

The New York Giants are only 3-1, so the Eagles still have a good chance to figure things out over the next couple of weeks and win the division.

At the same time, with some of the injuries they've dealt with on both sides of the football, Lane Johnson deciding to retire, and other factors, others believe it's time for Philadelphia to consider moving on from some of their veterans, including Saquon Barkley. 

Barkley hasn't been great this year and struggled a bit last season, but moving on from him still doesn't make much sense if Philadelphia wants to win at a high level. Everything the Eagles have shown us over the past year or so suggests that they still want to win games, even if they moved on from guys like A.J. Brown and others.

As for what a Barkley trade could look like, one recent proposal with the Minnesota Vikings should be instantly denied if it ever comes up. 

Trading Barkley is one thing, but moving him for Aaron Jones and a fifth-round pick would be beyond ridiculous.

Vikings get: RB Saquon Barkley, 2028 seventh-round pick

Eagles get: Aaron Jones Sr., 2028 fifth-round pick

“The Packers and Seahawks, pound for pound, are the two worst rushing offenses in the NFL right now. The Minnesota Vikings aren't quite so bad, and their 5-0 record has kept panic at bay. That said, Minnesota is relying heavily upon its ball-hawking defense. The offense is sluggish at best, and the run game certainly hasn't popped (-0.15 EPA per rush)...

“The Eagles take back Jones, a seasoned veteran with a hale and hearty track record. He should pick up the Mannion offense without issue. While Jones and Mannion did not overlap in their tenures with Green Bay, plenty of Matt LaFleur's stylistic flair has made its way to Philadelphia this season (with varied success). Jones can help keep Philly afloat the rest of the year, while Barkley infuses the Vikings' sluggish offense with even more star-power,” Christopher Kline wrote.

I understand Barkley probably won't go for a first-round pick at this stage of his career, but getting a fifth-round pick and an aging running back in return doesn't make much sense for Philadelphia. 

I don't even think it's unfair to say losing him for nothing would be better than getting that return. 

Barkley has done a lot of good for this organization, and while this year hasn't been perfect, I'm still willing to take my chances on him rather than trade for a below-average return.