Halapoulivaati Vaitai’s Rising Stock Could Land Him on the Trade Block
Even after three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, filled with twenty total games started including Super Bowl LII, some Eagles fans still struggle to pronounce Halapoulivaati Vaitai’s full name.
After being thought as the future Left Tackle for Philadelphia, the 2019 first-round selection of Andre Dillard pushes Vaitai further down the depth chart. The TCU product has fought all season to step into a bigger role with the team and has found a new home as he has now shifted to the inside of the Offensive Line, filling in for the recovering Pro Bowl Right Guard Brandon Brooks.
The first live-action of Halapoulivaati Vaitai at Right Guard came in Week 1 of the 2019 preseason where he had an impressive game. Making the shift to another position is no easy task, but Big V seemed to embrace the role and improved his stock as a versatile Offensive Lineman.
Ever since the Preseason opener, rumors have swirled around regarding teams being interested in the former fifth-round selection, including this from Chad Forbes.
Multiple teams interested in #Eagles Halapoulivaati Vaitai. Emergence of Jordan Mailata plus 1st Rd Pick Andre Dillard give Eagles significant depth. Also Matt Pryor can play tackle. Eagles have rare depth at need position across NFL.
— Chad Forbes (@NFLDraftBites) August 12, 2019
Although the rumors are not validated and are currently mere speculation, the topic should not come as a surprise. A successful Offensive Line is crucial for an offense to be dominant in the NFL. Vaitai not only has NFL regular season and playoff experience but now another trait: the ability to play Guard. There are many teams around the league needing help along their offensive lines including the LA Chargers, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans. If Vaitai is available via trade, there will definitely be a market.
The teams that stand out the most are the Jaguars and Texans. First of all, Jacksonville’s offense is now run by two former Eagles: Nick Foles and John Defilippo. Vaitai helped Nick Foles have the best game of his career in the Super Bowl, and has also been around John Defilippo while he was the Quarterback’s Coach for the Eagles. If Philadelphia found a trade partner in the Jaguars, Vaitai would instantly be one of, if not, the best backup Offensive Lineman on the depth chart, being available to plug into four of the five positions along the line.
The Texans are a team ready to break out and compete in the playoffs. The only thing holding the Texans back is a struggling Offensive Line. To add to the excitement, Jadeveon Clowney and the Texans have not agreed to a long-term deal and are reportedly shopping the EDGE rusher.
I’ll be surprised if Jadeveon Clowney isn’t traded. They need an upgrade at LT to protect Deshaun Watson. LTs don’t grow on trees so I have no idea who it would be at this time of year.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) August 13, 2019
A trade package including Clowney from the Texans and Vaitai from the Eagles makes sense on the surface for both teams, but it would be more difficult than some people think, as Logan Banker or PHLSportsNation points out.
The market for Vaitai is there, and the Eagles could dump the versatile blocker and his cheap contract for, most likely, a 4th or 5th round selection in return. Although Vaitai is important to the team, he could be replaceable from within. Outside of the Eagles elite starting line, backups include Andre Dillard, Stefen Wisniewski, Matt Pryor and Jordan Mailata. Matt Pryor needs to show more promise in the preseason to make the final roster but could make the cut as a versatile lineman, like Vaitai. Dillard will likely not see the field much but looks ready to go if need be.
If the Eagles are struggling to keep Dillard off of the field, there is a possibility to keep him on the field, along with Jason Peters. Peters has pointed out that he is willing to transition to Guard in order to lengthen his career. Although the Eagles only need help at Guard until Brandon Brooks returns, Doug Pederson could possibly roll out a starting Offensive Line including Dillard at LT and Peters at LG (shifting Seumalo to RG), if Vaitai is not around.
It is a long shot, but the Eagles are not completely tied to Vaiai and could rely on another player within the organization to fill in.
Featured Image: USA Today Images
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