Nick Sirianni Makes 1st Comments on Eagles' Overnight Trade

Jan 12, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni reacts during the game against the Green Bay Packers in an NFC wild card game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Jan 12, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni reacts during the game against the Green Bay Packers in an NFC wild card game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

The Philadelphia Eagles pulled off a trade late on Monday night with their first preseason game slated for Thursday against the Cincinnati Bengals. They acquired former fourth-round cornerback Jakorian Bennett from the Las Vegas Raiders for 2022 fifth-round defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV, adding some valuable depth in the secondary while unloading someone from a loaded group in the trenches.

It's a worthwhile dart throw, especially considering Bennett was a top-105 pick just in 2023. He had strong underlying metrics last year, and considering that Booker only played 16% of the defensive snaps and had limited special teams value, the move makes a lot of sense.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, head coach Nick Sirianni shared his first comments on the move.

Eagles HC Nick Sirianni Gives 1st Comments on Jakorian Bennett Trade

Sirianni noted that the trade for Bennett was just about adding depth. He said the competition at the position between Adoree' Jackson and Kelee Ringo has been really good and that "competition brings out the best in all our guys...I love the competitive drive of this team. And competition brings you closer."

Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Ringo, Jackson, and presumably Eli Ricks, but Bennett has a chance to carve out a role if he learns Vic Fangio's scheme quickly. It feels likely that he'll make the team, and Sirianni declared that Philadelphia liked Bennett's tape coming out of college and with the Raiders, highlighting his speed and coverage ability.

Bennett, who surrendered a 52.3% completion percentage and 67.7 passer rating in 10 games when targeted in coverage last year, was an athletic freak coming out of Maryland.

He ran a 4.30 40-yard dash while ranking in the 97th percentile in broad jump, 94th in the vertical, and 93rd in the 10-yard shuffle. Bennett's physical skills are obvious, and now it's just a matter of proving that he can stay healthy and be consistent.

Few places set players up for success better than Philadelphia. It's a dream spot for Bennett to land, as he'll inevitably benefit from the Eagles' ability to generate pressure up front when he's on the field. Bennett likely won't be ready to suit up on Thursday, though expect him to get a long look in preseason Week 2.

For Booker, it's an opportunity to revive his career and get snaps for a team devoid of defensive tackle depth. It's a win-win for both sides, and Booker leaves the organization as a champion.

Here's wishing him the best, but fans should be more excited about what Bennett could potentially do in this system.

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