Raiders and Eagles complete rare preseason player swap

Las Vegas acquires defensive tackle depth following Wilkins release controversy

In a rare training camp trade, the Las Vegas Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles have swapped young defensive players, with the Raiders acquiring defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV in exchange for cornerback Jakorian Bennett, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Monday evening deal addresses immediate roster needs for both teams as they prepare for their upcoming preseason games and the 2025 regular season.

Filling a critical need in Las Vegas

For the Raiders, this trade directly addresses a glaring hole at defensive tackle created by the shocking release of Christian Wilkins just two weeks ago. The Raiders cut ties with Wilkins on July 24 after a dispute over his rehabilitation approach for a Jones fracture in his foot, voiding $35.25 million in remaining guarantees from his $110 million contract signed just last year.

“From the Raiders’ perspective, this trade makes a lot of sense, considering they just released Christian Wilkins from his contract following a dispute with the team,” noted the initial report. The move gives new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham another body to compete in what has become a wide-open competition at defensive tackle.

Booker, 25, brings Super Bowl experience to Las Vegas after being part of Philadelphia’s championship run to Super Bowl LIX. The 6-foot-3, 301-pound Stanford product was originally drafted by the Houston Texans in the fifth round (150th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Booker’s journey to Las Vegas

After appearing in 10 games as a rookie with Houston, Booker was waived and claimed by Philadelphia, spending the 2023 season on their practice squad before breaking through in 2024. He appeared in all 17 regular-season games for the Eagles last season, recording:

• 18 total tackles
• 1 sack
• 2 quarterback hits
• 2 tackles for loss

While primarily serving in a rotational role behind Philadelphia’s talented defensive line, Booker showed enough promise to warrant inclusion in this trade. He’ll now have an opportunity to compete for more significant playing time in Las Vegas.

The Raiders’ defensive tackle room currently includes Adam Butler, Tyree Wilson, Leki Fotu, Jonah Laulu, Zach Carter, and rookies Tonka Hemingway and JJ Pegues. With Pete Carroll’s new regime still evaluating the roster, Booker has a legitimate chance to carve out a role.

Bennett heads to Philadelphia

For the Eagles, acquiring Bennett addresses their need for cornerback depth following significant offseason departures. Philadelphia lost Darius Slay (Pittsburgh), Isaiah Rodgers (Minnesota), and Avonte Maddox (Detroit) in free agency, creating opportunities in the secondary despite the strong play of 2024 rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.

Bennett, 24, was the 104th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Maryland. Over two seasons with the Raiders, he appeared in 24 games with 11 starts, compiling:

• 58 career tackles
• 11 passes defensed
• 0 interceptions

His best season came in 2024 when he recorded 26 tackles and 8 passes defensed in just 10 games before a shoulder injury ended his season. Bennett had been working with the third-team defense in Raiders training camp under new coach Pete Carroll, who prefers taller, lankier cornerbacks than the 5-foot-11 Bennett.

Athletic upside in Philadelphia

Despite the lack of interceptions, Bennett brings elite athleticism to Philadelphia’s secondary. At the 2023 NFL Combine, he scored in the top 90th percentile among cornerbacks in:

• 40-yard dash (4.30 seconds)
• 10-yard split
• Broad jump
• Vertical jump

His NFL.com scouting report described him as “more of a catch-challenger than an instinctive ballhawk,” noting his aggressiveness at the catch point and effectiveness in contested situations.

Bennett will compete for the Eagles’ open outside cornerback position opposite Mitchell, joining a battle that includes Adoree’ Jackson and Kelee Ringo. Interestingly, Ringo was selected just one spot after Bennett in the 2023 draft.

Change of scenery benefits

Both players are young enough that a fresh start could benefit their development. At 24 and 25 years old respectively, Bennett and Booker have their best football ahead of them if they can secure consistent playing time.

For Bennett, joining Philadelphia’s defensive backs room—which ranked first in the NFL in passing yards allowed in 2024—provides an opportunity to learn from one of the league’s best defensive coaching staffs. The Eagles have shown a knack for developing secondary talent, and Bennett’s athleticism fits their scheme.

Booker, meanwhile, gets a chance to prove himself in a less crowded defensive line room. While Philadelphia boasts one of the NFL’s most talented defensive fronts, Las Vegas offers more immediate opportunity for playing time, especially given the Wilkins situation.

Trade timing and implications

The timing of this trade, coming just days before both teams begin their preseason schedules, allows each player to acclimate to their new systems before games begin. Both will need to pass physicals for the trade to become official.

This marks a rare preseason player-for-player swap, as most training camp trades involve draft picks or roster cuts. The fact that both teams were willing to make this deal suggests they had thoroughly evaluated their rosters through the first week of camp and identified specific needs.

For Raiders fans, the trade represents the new regime’s first significant roster move to address the Wilkins fallout. It also signals that Carroll and general manager Michael Lombardi are willing to be aggressive in reshaping the roster to fit their vision.

Eagles fans can view this as another shrewd move by general manager Howie Roseman to add competition and depth at a position of need without sacrificing significant resources.

As both teams prepare for the upcoming season, this trade exemplifies the constant roster evaluation and adjustment that occurs throughout training camp. Time will tell which team benefits more from the swap, but for now, it appears to be a deal that addresses immediate needs for both franchises.

Image Sources: https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/las-vegas-raiders-philadelphia-eagles-013102957.html

Category: Sports
Subcategory: Football
Date: 08/05/2025