To say cornerback Adoree’ Jackson had a rough debut with the Philadelphia Eagles is putting it mildly.
Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys, Jackson was targeted seven times, allowing five catches for 103 yards. He was beaten badly on a 32-yard strike from Dak Prescott to CeeDee Lamb, drew a flag for pass interference and repeatedly let receivers turn short gains into chunk plays by giving up the sideline.
Bleeding Green Nation’s Shamus Clancy raised an interesting possibility at corner for the Eagles and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio if things don’t go well in Cleveland: Denzel Ward.
“It’s too early in the year to see what teams may want to part with quality players before the Nov. 4 trade deadline, but if anyone’s going to be active working the phone, it’s going to be Howie Roseman,” Clancy wrote on September 11, adding:
“Is everyone hoping the Browns suck like usual and they send Denzel Ward here for a third-round pick?”
A Look Back at Ward’s Career With the Cleveland Browns
A former No. 4 overall pick for the Browns in 2018, Ward has been named to four Pro Bowls, including back-to-back trips in 2023-2024.
In 2024, he led the NFL in passes defensed (19, a career high), also finishing with 49 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble in 16 games.
He has amassed 96 passes defended and 17 interceptions over his eight-year career, playing in 96 games (93 starts). At 28, he’s still in his prime, and his sticky coverage has made him one of the league’s most well-respected corners.
The Browns likely don’t want to part with him, but if their season turns into a dumpster fire — which it very well could, considering their current QB situation — trading Ward is a definitel possibility.
Adoree’ Jackson Had Rough Outing Week 1
Despite his bad game against the Cowboys, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni isn’t throwing Jackson to the wolves.
“Obviously, we gave up the three scoring drives early on in the game, and it’s– this is the greatest team sport there is, so to say, ‘Hey, this happened because of this player,’ it’s not realistic in the game of football,” Sirianni said when asked about Jackson’s bad game.
“I thought he had moments where he had good challenges and obviously he gave up a couple plays also. It’s never, ‘Hey, this happened because of this.’ Never in this game, never in this sport, but again, like everybody in that football game, you had some positives, you had some negatives.”
Should the Philadelphia Eagles Try to Trade for Cleveland Browns CB Denzel Ward?
Nick Cammett/Getty ImagesShould the Philadelphia Eagles attempt to trade for CB Denzel Ward of the Cleveland Browns?
The numbers would have to work for both teams in a trade for Ward, who signed a five-year $100.5 million extension that runs through 2027. He has a $14 million cap hit in 2025, but that number balloons to $32 million in 2026 and $30 million in 2027. Those numbers can change, of course, as Roseman is a master of the salary cap.
Ward’s concussion history should also be part of the evaluation and discussion. He has suffered at least six documented concussions since entering the league, and that’s beyond serious. He’s fine at the start of the 2025 season, but any conversation about a trade would have to include his medicals.
Bottom line: the Eagles already have a championship-caliber defense. Add Ward, and the secondary gets a lot more scary. If Roseman wants one more blue-chip player for Fangio, Ward could be it.
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