ESPN links Eagles to Patriots wide receiver in potential trade at NFL deadline

I really have no idea why these outlets continue to suggest the Philadelphia Eagles will make a move for a wide receiver at the NFL trade deadline, but here we are with yet another WR trade rumor.

This time, ESPN is the culprit. In their 2024 NFL Trade Deadline roundup, they linked the Eagles to New England Patriots wideout Kendrick Bourne.

ESPN on why the Eagles may target Bourne at the deadline

Which player should they target? Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne. The Eagles traded for Jahan Dotson before the season to be their third receiver, but that move has not panned out. Dotson has an almost impressively poor 0.2 yards per route run this season.

Bourne, who recently returned from an ACL tear sustained last season, could be an upgrade. Though he has never rekindled the level of play he showed during a strong 2021 season (when he recorded 800 receiving yards with 2.1 yards per route run), ESPN’s receiver scores have always liked him. His overall score has been at least 50 in every season, including and since that 2021 season (and at least 60 in all but one).

I really don’t get this one.

If the Eagles were to trade for a receiver (which I firmly believe they won’t), it would have to be for a big name guy. They’re not going to try a do-over on a Jahan Dotson-level player like Bourne.

All of these national sports media outlets suggesting the Eagles will look to trade for a wideout only tells me one thing — they haven’t watched a single Eagles snap this season. Their offense runs through 3-4 guys: Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, AJ Brown, and DeVonta Smith. Aside from the offensive line, nobody else really matter. I love Dallas Goedert, but when the team is fully healthy, he’s rarely utilized.

Hurts simply won’t target his third wide receiver and it’s really as simple as that. Dotson just hasn’t had a real opportunity to do anything. If Brown or Smith were injured and expected to miss a lot of time, all these trade rumors would make sense. But with how everything has played out thus far, I’m dumbfounded that so many reporters think the Eagles need another wide receiver.