The Eagles dealt underachieving wide receiver turned tight end J.J. Arcega-Whiteside to the Seattle Seahawks for defensive back Ugo Amadi.
Arcega-Whiteside was pulled from Sunday’s practice for what was described as a non-injury-related matter which turned out to be the trade.
Eagles have agreed to terms to trade TE JJ Arcega-Whiteside to the Seahawks for S Ugo Amadi. pic.twitter.com/vh6mpyKpW4
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 15, 2022
Philadelphia’s second-round pick in 2019, JJAW never lived up to the billing after a great college career at Stanford where he was considered one of the better contested-catch players in college football at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds.
In 40 career games at the professional level, Arcega-Whiteside could never generate consistent separation which was followed by confidence issues. The fourth-year pro leaves Philadelphia with just 16 receptions over three seasons for 290 yards and one touchdown.
Ironically, the Seahawks drafted star receiver D.K. Metcalf just seven slots after Arcega-Whiteside was taken by Philadelphia at No. 57 overall. Metcalf developed into a second-team All-Pro by 2020 and recently signed a three-year, $72 million extension with the Seahawks. The Eagles had a medical red flag on Metcalf, however, and decided that the star receiver was too much of a risk before Day 3 of the draft. Their decision came down to JJAW or Parris Campbell, who was selected two spots later at No. 59 by Indianapolis.
In a last-ditch effort to generate production from Arcega-Whiteside, the Eagles moved him to tight end in the offseason and JJAW embraced the decision, gaining almost 15 pounds. He played sparingly in the preseason opener against the New York Jets and was clearly behind Dallas Goedert, Jack Stoll, Grant Calcaterra, and Noah Togiai on the depth chart not to mention the recovering Tyree Jackson, who remains on the PUP list while recovering from a torn ACL.
Amadi, meanwhile, gives the Eagles a veteran versatile defensive back who can play safety and slot cornerback. In his first three seasons, the 5-9, 201-pound Amadi has played in 47 games, amassing an interception, 13 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Philadelphia has been cross-training both Josiah Scott and Andre Chachere in similar roles and is clearly looking for better depth behind projected starters Marcus Epps and Anthony Harris at safety.
Veteran Jaquiski Tartt recently missed a number of recent practices with a personal matter and has yet to take a first-team rep this summer while K’Von Wallace has underperformed to the point the Eagles have taken closer looks at both Scott and undrafted rookie Reed Blankenship.
Originally a fourth-round pick out of Oregon, the speedy Amadi, 25, who clocked a 4.43 at the combine, could fit in as a backup nickel and safety as well as a punt gunner in coverage. He also has some punt-return ability, averaging 16.0 yards per return during his senior season with the Ducks.
Eagles GM Howie Roseman has been known to make player-for-player trades in August, pulling off such deals in four of the past seven years dating back to 2016.
The Eagles still have to make three more moves before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline to get to 85 players. Before Sunday’s practice, the team waived offensive lineman William Dunkle and linebacker Ali Fayad.
LIST OF HOWIE ROSEMAN 2.0 AUGUST TRADES (Player for player trades in italics):
Aug. 16, 2016: Traded OT Dennis Kelly to the Tennessee Titans for WR Dorial Green-Beckham
Aug. 11, 2017: Traded WR Jordan Matthews and a third-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft to the Buffalo Bills for CB Ronald Darby
Aug. 21, 2017: Traded OL Matt Tobin to the Seattle Seahawks for a 2018 seventh-round pick.
Aug. 28, 2017: Traded long snapper Jon Dorenbos to the New Orleans Saints for a 2019 seventh-round pick
2018: No trades
Aug. 9, 2019: Traded UDFA OL Ryan Bates to the Bills for DE Eli Harold
Aug. 22, 2019: Traded DT Bruce Hector to the Arizona Cardinals for S Rudy Ford
2020: No trades
Aug. 28, 2021: Traded a conditional sixth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for QB Gardner Minshew
Aug. 31, 2021: Traded OL Matt Pryor and a 2022 seventh-round pick to the Indianapolis Colts for a sixth-round pick in 2022
Aug. 15, 2022: Traded WR/TE J.J. Arcega-Whiteside to the Seahawks for DB Ugo Amadi
