Adrian Fedkiw
Michael Bennett appeared on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football Friday morning as a Philadelphia Eagle discussing his recent trade rumors.
Fast-forward a few hours later and Bennett is no longer donning those colors.
The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane is reporting that the Eagles are trading Bennett to the New England Patriots.
An #Eagles trade of DE Michael Bennett to the Patriots is going down as of this writing, NFL sources said. Draft picks still be ironed out.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) March 8, 2019
McLane is reporting that the Eagles will receive a 2020 fifth-round pick while also sacrificing a seventh in their return for Bennett. That means they won’t be getting a pick for this year’s insane defensive line class.
#Eagles are likely to receive a 2020 5th round draft pick from the Patriots for Michael Bennett and a 2020 7th rounder, NFL sources said.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) March 8, 2019
Bennett, who is set to make $7.2 million in 2019, recognized the Eagles’ lack of salary cap funds during his segment with GMFB, but stated that he would not take a pay cut.
“I’m not willing to take a pay cut. I actually want a pay raise at this point, and just know that whatever team I go to, I want to be paid more than I’m getting paid right now.”
At the end of the day the NFL is a business and Bennett understands that.
“I don’t know what’s happening with the Eagles. Of course you want to be with the team you’re with, but at the same time it’s a business, and you want to be able to make money whenever you get the opportunities to. And I feel like if you’re on the trading block it’s just a part of the game, but at the same time I still know I’m still one of the best players in the NFL.
You look at statistically last year, quarterback hits, TFLs and how I approach the game, I love football and whatever team I’m on, I’m going to take that same attitude and go out there and be a nasty player and try to dominate that defensive line and be the best teammate and best player I can possibly be.”
Here’s a clip of the segment.
Michael Bennett on GMFB this morning: "I'm not willing to take a pay cut. I actually want a pay raise at this point, and whatever happens just know that whatever team I go to I want to get paid more than I get paid right now." pic.twitter.com/osdCKtCxc9
— The Bitter Birds (@AdrianFedkiw) March 8, 2019
The 33-year-old Bennett was second on the Eagles last year with nine sacks, was second in the NFL in quarterback hits and was 21st out of 109 edge defenders in pressure rate, according to Pro Football Focus.
The Eagles are currently 21st in salary cap space with around $21.9 million, according to Over The Cap, and that doesn’t include the $7.2 million that’s going to come off the books with the Bennett trade. No trades can be processed until the start of the new league year on Wednesday.
With all this money, could the Eagles be looking at a premier free agent like a Le’Veon Bell or are they saving the cash to extend Carson Wentz?
We’ll find out soon enough.