Vikings and Eagles considered viable partners for blockbuster trade

With the Philadelphia Eagles going nowhere fast this season, all eyes are on general manager Howie Roseman, as it’s possible he could sell off some pieces at the NFL Trade deadline. One of the teams that should be eyeing the Eagles is the undefeated Minnesota Vikings . The Eagles have been playing poorly all season long and are now sitting with a 2-4 record. Making matters worse, quarterback Jalen Hurts is expected to miss the rest of the season because of blood clots in his lungs. This just feels like the right time for the Eagles to hit the reset button, whether that means a rebuild or a significant retooling. And, because of that, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell has proposed a blockbuster trade between the Eagles and Vikings that could provide a massive boost for Minnesota’s offense. MORE: Bold predictions for NFL Week 7 Eagles-Vikings trade proposal Barnwell has proposed a deal between the Eagles and Vikings that sends running back Saquon Barkley to Minnesota for a conditional 2027 third-round pick. “The Vikings are 22nd in explosive play rate on designed runs, which is a reality of life with (Aaron) Jones in the fold,” Barnwell said. “Adding Barkley would allow the Vikings to use him as their primary back while making Jones a complementary player, which is probably the right role for the veteran at this point of his career,” the ESPN analyst added. Why Eagles should trade Saquon Barkley Barkley will turn 30 in February and that is the dreaded age for running backs when they start to decline, and decline could hit Barkley very quickly given his injury issues, which we’ve seen first hand this season after Barkley missed two games due to a hamstring injury. If the Eagles do indeed hit the reset button, it might be a few years before they’re good again, in which case it doesn’t make much sense to keep an expensive running back on the roster. Barkley’s value may never be higher than it is now, so the Eagles should strike while they still have the chance. MORE: Saquon Barkley injury report reveals RB’s status for Week 7 Why Vikings should trade for Saquon Barkley Barnwell laid it out pretty good in his write-up. The Vikings are currently starting running back Aaron Jones, and while he’s still a solid player, he is not the guy he once was and there’s no doubt the Vikings could use more juice. Barkley is still capable of providing that. Granted, he’s in the midst of a down season, but he has also missed two games and exited two others early, and the Eagles’ offensive line has been dreadful, with Philly’s group upfront ranking 23rd in run-block win rate , per ESPN. Even with all of those issues, Barkley is still ripping off over five yards per carry and he could really thrive in a Vikings offense that forces teams to drop extra players into coverage because of the receiving threats wideouts Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are. Barkley could see a lot of light boxes in Minnesota, and that’s the recipe for him to eat. And, if teams do stack the box against him, the Vikings can beat them down the field with their talented group of pass-catchers. Making this trade is truly a no-brainer for the Vikings. — Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —