Evaluating Patrick Queen, Devin White as Philadelphia Eagles' trade targets
The Philadelphia Eagles could address the trade market for a linebacker, more specifically one of two former LSU linebackers: Patrick Queen and Devin White.
NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Dave Zangaro pondered the possibility of a missing piece to an Eagles’ Super Bowl LVIII run this season. Linebacker has question marks, despite former Georgia star Nakobe Dean entering Year 2.
But adding a veteran, especially one of Queen or White, could put the Eagles over the top.
“The name that really stands out to me is linebacker Patrick Queen down in Baltimore,” Zangaro wrote. “Queen is entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2023 after the Ravens declined his fifth-year option for 2024 and his role and future should be in question …
“If you’re looking at Queen from the Eagles’ perspective, he checks a lot of boxes. He’s still just 23 years old despite playing three full seasons in the NFL. He has draft pedigree as the No. 28 overall pick out of LSU in 2020. And while he hasn’t exactly become a star, he has played and started every game in his NFL career and still has room to grow even after a 117-tackle season in 2022.”
Zangaro also made the case for White to come to Philadelphia. With Tampa Bay possibly rebuilding following Tom Brady’s retirement, could he be expendable?
“White is similar in some ways to Queen,” Zangaro wrote. “He’s another young, former first-round linebacker out of LSU who might be available. White reportedly requested a trade out of Tampa but it doesn’t seem like the Bucs are willing to move him yet. White has also been a more successful player than Queen and that means it would take more to get him and then you’d probably have to figure out a long-term extension immediately. White was a Pro Bowler in 2021 and has three straight seasons with 124+ tackles.”
If the Eagles are to return to the Super Bowl, do they need to trade for another piece? History shows it helps with Philadelphia.
Go back to the 2017 season when the Eagles traded for running back Jay Ajayi midseason. He was a key cog to the offense that helped win Super Bowl LII.
The Eagles also traded for AJ Brown and CJ Gardner-Johnson prior to last season. The latter is gone but Brown received an extension.
Queen or White could work out in Philadelphia, whether it’s a preseason acquisition or midseason trade. There’s no guarantees, but it might be something to keep an eye on for the two former LSU linebackers.