Will the Eagles make a trade-deadline deal?

The NFL's trade deadline is 4 p.m. Tuesday, and the Eagles are one of the teams that could be looking to make a deal.

With the NFL's best record at 7-1, the Eagles fit the profile of a contending team that would explore opportunities to bolster its roster for the back half of the schedule. Plus, Eagles executive Howie Roseman is known as one of the most active traders in the league.

"I like where we're at right now with our roster [with] the way guys are playing," coach Doug Pederson said Monday, one day after the Eagles' 33-10 win over San Francisco. "We're always looking, obviously. I'm not going to leave it out of the question, but at the same time, the guys that we have in this locker room, we've got a lot of confidence in, and we go forward from there."

The NFL's trade deadline is not like that of the NBA, NHL, or Major League Baseball. Trades are less common in the NFL – especially in-season. There was only one trade last season on the day of the deadline and four total trades in the week leading up to the deadline. However, there were already two reported trades on Monday night.

Roseman has made 41 player trades (not pick-for-pick deals) since he became general manager in 2010, excluding his 2015 season in exile. Of those trades, only two were made after Week 1. So even for an aggressive executive like Roseman, the in-season trade is rare. Considering the challenges of learning a scheme and developing chemistry with new teammates, it's difficult to add a significant contributor in November. It's not like a third baseman going from the Yankees to the Phillies.

Plus, the Eagles lack the draft capital that would help make a trade easier to afford. They already have dealt their second-, third-, and seventh-round picks in next April's draft.

However, they have three fourth-round picks, two fifth-round picks, and a sixth-round pick to give them six Day 3 picks in their cupboard. And with linebacker Jordan Hicks on the 53-man roster waiting to go on injured reserve, they have a roster spot available for a newcomer.

The best argument to make a trade is that the Eagles are legitimate contenders this season, and opportunities are precious in the NFL. It's easy to look at a young Carson Wentz and expect to perennially be among the best in the NFL, but the same logic was applied to Indianapolis earlier in Andrew Luck's career. Long-term planning can be nebulous in the NFL, so it makes sense to explore ways to upgrade this roster.

Injuries have limited the Eagles in key areas. After losing Darren Sproles in Week 3, the Eagles lack a reliable pass-blocking running back. Wendell Smallwood is the best they have, but with defenses dialing blitzes against the Eagles, it could make sense to check the price of players proven in that role. Veteran running back Frank Gore, who is on an expiring deal for the 2-6 Colts, could be a sensible upgrade. A blocking tight end who can line up in the backfield as a fullback would fit that profile, too.

Jason Peters' injury has left the Eagles unproven at left tackle. The team is committed to Halapoulivaati Vaitai, although Seattle was aggressive in upgrading their offensive line by trading for veteran tackle Duane Brown on Monday. The price might be prohibitive for the Eagles to acquire a full-time starting tackle such as Buffalo's Cordy Glenn, and the Eagles prefer to build from within. They could be more compelled to seek a reserve with experience to bolster the depth; Isaac Seumalo and Taylor Hart are the backup tackles. Role players are often better targets during the season than every-down players because of the quick transition.

Cornerback is a weakness on the Eagles' defense, but Ronald Darby will soon return from injury and Sidney Jones is a late-season possibility. They could provide the necessary upgrades. And even though the Eagles might be linked to wide receivers, they're optimistic about the development of players such as Mack Hollins and Marcus Johnson.

The Eagles know they've reached 7-1 with their current roster. So standing pat could be a fine option, too, and the Eagles have seemed to discover the right mix of personalities and leadership in the locker room to foster the chemistry that the best teams boast.

"That's why you have to be careful," Pederson said. "It's got to be the right fit. It can't just be anybody. From my standpoint, you don't want to disrupt the chemistry that is going on in the dressing room right now. And those guys are playing with a lot of confidence, and they're rallying around each other. So it would have to be a pretty special fit to make it work."

Trade decisions are made by the front office, with Roseman and Joe Douglas at the helm. Dwayne Joseph, the pro scouting director, would be a key figure when identifying a player from a different roster. The coaching staff's focus is on players already on the roster and putting together a game plan for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos. They're available for feedback but do not make the personnel decisions. Roseman is the man in charge at the trade deadline.

"We are focused on Denver and getting Denver in here," Pederson said. "I can't worry myself sometimes on things that are a little bit out of my control at this point. … If there is somebody that's [of] interest, then yeah, we'll have that conversation. We'll cross that bridge when we can, obviously, a short period of time."

Howie Roseman has made 41 trades of players since his 2010 promotion to general manager, excluding 2015 when he was not involved in personnel decisions. These trades do not include pick-for-pick deals.

2017 (6 trades)

Third-round pick to BAL for Tim Jernigan and third-round pick

Allen Barbre to DEN for conditional 2019 pick

Jordan Matthews and '18 third-round pick to BUF for Ronald Darby

Matt Tobin and 2018 seventh-round pick to SEA for 2018 fifth-round pick

Terrence Brooks to NYG for Dexter McDougle

Jon Dorenbos to NO for 2019 seventh-round pick

2016 (6 trades)

Kiko Alonso, Byron Maxwell and first-round pick to MIA for first-round pick

DeMarco Murray and fourth-round pick to TEN for fourth-round pick

Mark Sanchez to DEN for conditional seventh-round pick

Dennis Kelly to TEN for Dorial Green-Beckham

Sam Bradford to MIN for 2017 first-round pick, 2018 fourth-round pick

Eric Rowe to NE for 2018 fourth-round pick

2014 (4 trades)

Fifth-round pick to NO for Darren Sproles

Bryce Brown and seventh-round pick to BUF for seventh-round pick and 2015 fourth-round pick

Conditional 2015 seventh-round pick to CAR for Kenjon Barner

David Fluellen for Cody Parkey

2013 (6 trades)

Sixth-round pick and 2014 conditional pick to TB for Arrelious Benn

Stanley Havili to IND for Clifton Geathers

Dion Lewis to CLE for Emmanuel Acho

Nate Menkin to HOU for Jeff Maehl

Felix Jones to PIT for Adrian Robinson

Isaac Sopoaga and 2014 sixth-round pick to NE for 2014 fifth-round pick

2012 (6 trades)

Winston Justice and sixth-round pick to IND for sixth-round pick

Third- and fourth-round picks to HOU for DeMeco Ryans and third-round pick

Asante Samuel to ATL for seventh-round pick

D.J. Johnson to IND for Ollie Ogbu

Moise Fokou and Greg Lloyd to IND for Kevin Thomas and conditional pick

Conditional 2013 pick to CLE for David Sims

2011 (2 trades)

Brodrick Bunkley to DEN for sixth-round pick

Kevin Kolb to ARI for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and 2012 second-round pick

2010 (11 trades)

Reggie Brown to TB for draft pick

Chris Clemons and fourth-round pick to SEA for Darryl Tapp

Sheldon Brown and Chris Gocong to CLE for Alex Hall, fourth- and fifth round picks

Fifth-round pick to DEN, Ernie Sims to PHI, Tony Scheffler and seventh-round pick to DET

Joe Mays to DEN for J.J. Arrington and conditional pick

Donovan McNabb to WAS for second-round pick and 2011 third- or fourth-round pick

Charles Scott to ARI for Jorrick Calvin

2011 draft pick to ARI for Reggie Wells

Stacy Andrews to SEA for 2011 seventh-round pick

Tracy White and seventh-round pick to NE for 2012 sixth-round pick

Mike Bell to CLE for Jerome Harrison

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