Eagles to trade Bennett to England

The Philadelphia Eagles were finalizing a trade Friday afternoon that would send defensive end Michael Bennett to New England, according to multiple reports. The Patriots were expected to send a 2020 fifth-round pick to the Eagles in exchange for Bennett and a seventh-round pick in 2020, according to Jeff McLane of Philly.com.

ESPN's Josina Anderson posted on social media that Bennett confirmed the trade to her, adding that "Bennett told me he is aware Bill Belichick has been fond of his game." Friday started with Bennett telling NFL Network's "Good Morning Football" on Friday that the Eagles were trying to trade him.

Bennett, 33, said on the show that he wasn't willing to take a pay cut, even though the Eagles could have wiped his scheduled $7.2 million salary off the 2019 books by releasing him. "I actually want a pay raise at this point, and so whatever happens just to know that whatever team I go to I want to get paid more than I get paid right now," Bennett said.

The Patriots often hesitate to pass out pay raises, however. A three-time Pro Bowl selection with Seattle, Bennett registered nine sacks and 34 tackles during his first season with Philadelphia in 2018.

Bennett said Friday morning that he would have liked to remain with the Eagles for the right money. "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," he said. "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.

Undrafted out of Texas A&M in 2009, Bennett has played in 141 games (100 starts) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2009-12), Seahawks (2013-17) and Eagles. He has 63 career sacks. 

(With inputs from agencies.)