Are the Cardinals a natural trade partner for the Eagles?

The Philadelphia Eagles are under the microscope for their management of quarterback Jalen Hurts, who is out for the season due to blood clots in both lungs.

The NFLPA wants an investigation into Philadelphia’s handling of the issue, as Hurts played in London on no sleep with a superficial blood clot in his calf.

In the fallout of this situation, the Eagles have a 2-4 record, which is still tied for second in the lousy NFC East, only 1.5 games behind the leading-New York Giants.

Therefore, the Eagles have a decision to make ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline: Ride it out with inexperienced backup quarterbacks, become a seller, trade for a veteran quarterback to push for the division or look to free agency and practice squads.

If the Eagles intend to compete for the division with a veteran quarterback, the Cardinals could be a natural trade partner for a specific reason: Arizona has a surplus.

Jacoby Brissett is the 33-year-old starting quarterback on an expiring contract who might have bought himself more time with Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Rams. Rookie Carson Beck has been the third-stringer all season, and there is speculation that he will get a chance to play at some point before the Cardinals have to decide whether to draft another quarterback next spring. ESPN’s Dan Graziano recently suggested late November for his first start.

And then there is Gardner Minshew, the 30-year-old backup quarterback with 47 career starts and a history in Philadelphia. Minshew was Hurts’ backup in 2021 and 2022 under head coach Nick Sirianni. Minshew signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals and has yet to throw a pass.

Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta discussed this potential dynamic on Wednesday, and Dan Bickley said he could not recall when a backup quarterback has been as disregarded as Minshew, especially given his reputation.

Minshew has played for seven teams and at times been a decent fill-in starter with a 17-30 record.

Will Minshew become expendable once Beck gets closer to game ready? Would the Eagles push harder for Brissett?

The Eagles started Tanner McKee on Sunday in a loss to the Carolina Panthers, who has three career starts. Cole Payton and Joe Milton are also on the roster but have no starts between them, although Milton has 53 career pass attempts. Milton signed with the Eagles last week and could be next to warrant a look.

Veteran Andy Dalton started the year as Philadelphia’s backup but was released and has since signed with the Atlanta Falcons.

Per ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler:

(The Eagles) come up most often regarding potential moves over the next few weeks. The Eagles are always active, and they could execute a mini-rebuild. …  It’s also worth noting that Philly is in the middle of a quarterback shake-up due to Jalen Hurts’ absence, and recently acquired QB Joe Milton is a name to watch. The Eagles are struggling mightily to run the ball, and Milton has mobility. He could be worth looking at soon.

Philadelphia has made the playoffs in five straight seasons and rosters high-level talent on offense with running back Saquon Barkley and wide receiver DeVonta Smith. But it also has the worst betting odds to make the playoffs in the division at +430.

There is not concrete reporting that the Eagles want any of Arizona’s quarterbacks, simply speculation about what options Philadelphia has left, to be clear.

The Cardinals own the same record as Philadelphia but the NFC West leader is the 6-0 San Francisco 49ers, as the two squads face different obstacles to contend for the playoffs.

Would the Eagles, who have won two Super Bowls in the past decade, want to part with even a Day 3 pick in order to chase a playoff spot that likely will not change their outlook beyond this year?

Perhaps the next couple weeks will provide clarity.

The Cardinals have games against the Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys, both of whom have shown vulnerabilities. A couple wins or a couple losses can clear up Arizona’s direction before the trade deadline.

The Eagles face all three NFC East rivals in the next three weeks before the deadline, which is a way to show their abilities to compete in poor division despite their compromised state.

There is precedent for Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort moving a quarterback in-season. In 2023, the Cardinals traded 1-7 starter Joshua Dobbs to the Minnesota Vikings, as Kyler Murray was nearing a return from a torn ACL suffered the year before. Arizona received a sixth-round pick for Dobbs.

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