Philadelphia Eagles: 5 potential deadline day trade targets
By David Esser
Kerryon Johnson, RB
Current Team: Detroit Lions
Due to the emergence of rookie running back D’Andre Swift, and the Lions’ newfound obsession with Adrian Peterson(?), former second-round pick Kerryon Johnson has found himself completely out of the Lions running back rotation.
Similar to that of Jordan Howard, Johnson is simply a guy who has rubbed his coaching staff the wrong way. He’s gotten just 30 touches this season, and has only made two starts. The Lions don’t want him, and he’d likely be moved for very cheap on the trade market.
As previously stated, the Philadelphia Eagles have a glaring hole when it comes to their backup running back position. They need a reliable ball carrier behind Sanders moving forward, and Johnson could quite emphatically fill that role. The added advantage to acquiring Johnson over Howard is the money, as Johnson is only owed $2 million in 2021 as opposed to Howard’s $5 million.
A sixth or seventh-round pick likely gets the deal done, and the Eagles RB2 position would then be solved for the next one and a half seasons. Even with the Detroit Lions appearing to be buyers this year (they traded for Everson Griffen), it’s hard to imagine them not biting at a Day 3 pick for the outcasted Johnson.