The Malcolm Butler saga in NE may soon be over

[Lord Scalious]

I assume you are talking about Mychal Kendricks. There are a few issues though

1) Unless this is a straight up trade (Butler for Kendricks), or even NE draft picks thrown in, I do not see the Eagles going along. Currently they do not have a 2nd or 3rd round pick guaranteed. They have one 1st round, three 4th round, two 5th round and one 6th round pick. One of the 4th round picks is from NE (as a result of the Rowe trade), that might turn into NE's 3rd round pick (if Rowe plays 50% of the defensive snaps).

In other words, the Eagles cannot afford to trade away even more draft picks, especially when looking at the needs this team has for the immediate future: OT and RB, OLB (and maybe C and G) on the top of their list.

2) Mychal Kendricks, although not playing a lot of snaps, is currently playing very well - even though playing a limited number of snaps. Also, he is the best depth LB we have on the outside. Losing him would definitely hurt the defense a lot.



Add to that the (potential) depth the Eagles currently have at CB (and the amount invested in it), and it simply makes little sense to add Butler. It was only one game, but as it is even with all the injuries the CB's look servicable (something not the case last season). And that is with the most probable 2018 starters out (in Jones and Darby), and Darby likely to return in about 4 weeks. Darby is not even on IR as it is. And Jones is on the NFI list (and in theory could play this season).

If the Eagles were on a serious SB run, I might see it happening, but as it is they are not (at least as projected for this season). Goal is to qualify for the play-offs; and with the current state of the division (as well as the NFC as a whole) that is a realistic goal without adding Butler.

Kendricks plays limited snap counts and makes over 7M a year until 2019. The Truth is probably that both players are being viewed as rentals. For both Eagles and Patriots only 2017 needs are the angle. So the DB injuries are the and clearing a contract for a depth LB off the books and start fresh in 2018 is the Eagles incentive.

 

[DutchBird]

Kendricks plays limited snap counts and makes over 7M a year until 2019. The Truth is probably that both players are being viewed as rentals. For both Eagles and Patriots only 2017 needs are the angle. So the DB injuries are the and clearing a contract for a depth LB off the books and start fresh in 2018 is the Eagles incentive.

I cannot judge for the Patriots, but I do not think that to be the case for the Eagles and Kendricks anymore.

The Eagles have been using Kendricks more than last year, and he has been good. And Kendricks is definitely NOT a depth LB. He is the starting WLB; the limited number of snaps is the result in most opponents coming out in 11 personnel, and the Eagles therefore coming out in nickel. That said, he has seen a significant increase in playing time so far this season (and played up to it).

Also, adding Butler would not do too much for the DB injuries the Eagles have. Most are week to week, with Darby being the longest term (4 weeks left from the projection). So that would mean letting go of a useful player in Kendricks and receiving a player that is of use for only a few games this season, and creates a log jam at a position in which the Eagles already have invested considerable resources. For the Eagles it makes little sense at all at this point. It would have made sense before the Eagles aquired Darby, and maybe even if Darby would be out for the whole season.