Ranking Eagles' trade deadline needs after Julio Jones signing. Is Budda Baker a target?

PHILADELPHIA − The NFL trade deadline is Oct. 31, and already we have seen the Eagles' secondary decimated by injuries.

Each of the five players who started Week 1 at defensive back − cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradberry, nickel Avonte Maddox and safeties Reed Blankenship and Justin Evans − have missed at least one game.

Maddox and Evans are on injured reserve, and there's no telling if either will return this season.

Bradberry was the only Week 1 starter on the field in the fourth quarter of Eagles' 20-14 loss to the New York Jets. Josh Jobe and Eli Ricks switched at the other cornerback spot until Ricks, an undrafted rookie free agent, hurt his knee and left the game.

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It was even worse at safety. Blankenship left in the fourth quarter with a ribs injury. He also missed the game against the Vikings with a ribs injury. He was replaced by Mekhi Garner, also an undrafted rookie free agent.

Garner was making his NFL debut − at a position he never played before. Garner was a cornerback in college at Clemson. He only started practicing there a few weeks ago.

"Obviously we've been banged up at this position," Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. "It's kind of when it rains, it pours on that position. The injuries have gotten us there."

But the secondary isn't the only position where the Eagles might need an upgrade. Star right tackle Lane Johnson injured his ankle Sunday against the Jets, and it's possible that he could miss the game this Sunday against the Dolphins, if not more.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has swung a deal leading up to the deadline in five of the past six seasons. Roseman has the resources to upgrade with an expected 10 picks in the draft next spring, including two second-round picks.

Here, then, is a ranking by position of where the Eagles might seek a trade, from lowest priority to highest. Quarterback, tight end, running back or special teams are not included.

6. Linebacker

Now that Nakobe Dean is back from the injured reserve list, it appears as if the Eagles are set at linebacker with veterans Nicholas Morrow and Zach Cunningham. The Eagles don't value the linebacker position as much as the others, so it's unlikely that Roseman would trade for an upgrade. If they do anything, it would be a free agent.

5. Defensive line

This is easily the Eagles' deepest and best position. But the Eagles have dealt with injuries here. Fletcher Cox missed the Oct. 8 game against the Rams with a back injury, and rookie Jalen Carter the game against the Jets.

Cox returned against the Jets, but the 12th-year defensive tackle have been averaging 70% of the snaps before his injury. He played a season-high 78% against the Jets. That's not sustainable. But Carter's injury isn't considered long term, so his return should help.

Last season, the Eagles signed veterans Ndamukong Suh and Linval Joseph in November. A signing like that could happen again if Cox and/or Carter's injuries linger. But they likely won't trade for help on the D-line.

4. Wide receiver

The Eagles addressed wide receiver by signing free agent Julio Jones on Tuesday.

He was needed. That's because as much as Quez Watkins is maligned for dropped passes, poor ball security or even a misread after catching a short pass, Sirianni insists his ability as a deep threat opens up passing lanes for A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

Jones, who's 34 years old, has had seven seasons with 1,000 yards or more receiving, combining both size and speed to be a reliable third receiver.

Watkins is on IR with a hamstring injury. It's still possible that the Eagles could seek a pure speed receiver such as the Jets' Mecole Hardman, who has fallen out of favor in New York.

3. Cornerback

It's hard to see the Eagles spending heavily here as well. Sirianni said last week that Slay's injury isn't considered long term, and he and Bradberry are considered a top tandem. And the Eagles did sign Bradley Roby to play nickel in place of Maddox, although Roby hurt his shoulder against the Jets.

If Roby's injury is long term, the Eagles could seek a trade, but not at a high cost. They also have used Ricks and Mario Goodrich at nickel, to mixed results. The Eagles waived Goodrich on Tuesday and reportedly signed Josiah Scott to the 53-man roster from the Steelers' practice squad.

Scott played for the Eagles the previous two seasons, starting four games. But the Eagles might not be done here.

2. Offensive line

Depth on the offensive line was becoming a concern even before right guard Cam Jurgens went on IR two weeks ago, followed by Johnson's ankle injury Sunday. The right side of the line consists of Sua Opeta and Jack Driscoll.

Needless to say, the Jets exploited that.

It appears that Johnson's injury isn't long term, according to an NFL Network report. But it might be worth investing in a solid player who could step in with minimal dropoff (there will always be a dropoff compared to Johnson) should the injury linger.

It just so happens that the Broncos could be holding a fire sale, and that means someone like left tackle Garett Bolles could be available. Either Bolles or Jordan Mailata would have to move to the right side, however.

Bolles won't come cheaply considering that good offensive linemen are in demand. But if the top priority is protecting quarteback Jalen Hurts, and if the Eagles are worried about Johnson, they might splurge.

1.Safety

This is the top priority. If Blankenship is out for an extended period, it's hard to see them getting by with Terrell Edmunds and Garner starting at safety, with another undrafted free agent in Tristin McCollum on the practice squad.

Rookie Sydney Brown has missed three straight games with a hamstring injury, so he could return soon. But Evans, who's on IR, isn't eligible to return until Nov. 26 against Buffalo.

It just depends on what the Eagles are willing to give up. Arizona's Budda Baker is on injured reserve, but he's eligible to return this week. Baker is one of the top safeties in the NFL, and he's signed through 2024 with large salary cap hits in each season.

The Eagles would have to sign him beyond next season to lower his cap hit this season, plus part with some early-round picks.

They could also go after Carolina's Jeremy Chinn, someone they considered in the second round in 2020 before deciding on Hurts (that decision turned out OK). Chinn is in the final season of his rookie contract, and thus wouldn't cost as much as Baker.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Ranking Eagles trade deadline needs by position with Lane Johnson injury