Eagles trade QB Matt Barkley to Arizona

The Eagles traded quarterback Matt Barkley to the Arizona Cardinals on Friday for a conditional seventh-round pick in a deal that clears the way for Tim Tebow to make the 53-man roster.

The trade headlined the eve of cut-down day, when NFL rosters must be reduced from 75 to 53 players. The Eagles informed multiple players that they will be waived, according to sources and reports, and still have a few more moves to make by 4 p.m. on Saturday.

The highest-profile move was trading Barkley. He must be on the Cardinals' roster for six games for the Eagles to receive the draft pick. The trade allowed the Cardinals to acquire Barkley before he hit the waiver wire, which would have been the case if the Eagles cut him.

Unless the Eagles keep two quarterbacks or acquire one elsewhere, then Tebow will be in an Eagles uniform this season.

Tebow, who had been out of football for the last two seasons, is a versatile quarterback who improved as training camp progressed. He saved his best performance for Thursday's preseason finale, when he completed 11 of 17 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns and one interception. Tebow is expected to be the Eagles' No. 3 quarterback behind Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez.

The trade ends Barkley's two seasons and three summers with the Eagles. Barkley went 27 of 52 for 351 yards with two interceptions in the preseason. He was 30 of 50 for 300 yards with four interceptions in five regular season games for the Eagles.

It was considered a boon when the Eagles moved up in the fourth round of the 2013 draft to acquire Barkley, a touted quarterback coming out of USC. He hoped to compete for a starting job during his rookie season, but Barkley did not appear sharp while recovering from a shoulder injury and was third string behind Michael Vick and Nick Foles.

Sanchez became the No. 2 quarterback last season, keeping Barkley as the third-stringer. He faced his stiffest competition for a roster spot this summer, when Tebow outplayed Barkley in Thursday's game against the Jets to take an edge in the competition.

Barkley can start anew in Arizona, where he will likely play third-string to Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton.

The Eagles were busy elsewhere on Friday. They did not make any other official transactions, but they informed players of pending moves.

The team decided to waive running back Raheem Mostert; wide receivers Rasheed Bailey, Quron Pratt; tight end Andrew Gleichert and Eric Tomlinson; offensive linemen John Moffitt, Malcolm Bunche, Brett Boyko, and Julian Vandervelde; defensive linemen Brian Mihalik and Travis Raciti; linebacker Deontae Skinner; defensive backs Randall Evans and Chris Prosinski; and punter Kip Smith, according to multiple sources and multiple reports.

The decision to release Prosinski was notable because he was a top special teams performer for the Eagles last season after they signed him in November. His departure could mean that Ed Reynolds and/or Jerome Couplin earn a spot as a reserve safety.

On the offensive line, Josh Andrews is a player to watch after the team moved on from Moffitt, Vandervelde, Bunche, and Boyko. Andrews is in the line to make the roster if the Eagles keep nine linemen.

Moffitt had a chance to earn a starting job this summer, but he showed rust returning from nearly two years away from football and struggled in the preseason. Bunche, a Newark, Del., native, is a promising young lineman who could end up on the team's practice squad.

Mostert led the Eagles in rushing yards and receiving yards during the preseason, but the Eagles are too deep at running back to keep the undrafted rookie. Bailey (Roxborough) and Pratt (Palmyra) were both local prospects who could not break through a deep receiving corps.

The Eagles need to make moves with six more players to reach the 53-man limit. They could go up until the 4 p.m. deadline while trying to trade players, like they did with Barkley. Linebacker Najee Goode and running back Kenjon Barner are both on the trade block, according to league sources.

Running back

Kenjon Barner impressed on offense and on special teams during the preseason. The Eagles could keep him as a fourth running back or decide to trade him. The former Oregon standout was on practice squad last year.

Wide receiver

Jeff Maehl has been on the roster the past two seasons, but he could be on the outside looking in after the team added Miles Austin and Seyi Ajirotutu as depth players.

Tight end

Eric Tomlinson would be the fourth tight end if the Eagles decide to go heavy at that position, which could be affected by Zach Ertz's injury.

Offensive line

Josh Andrews could be a sleeper to make the roster. A practice squad player last year, Andrews has guard/center versatility and beat out John Moffitt and Julian Vandervelde. The Eagles need to decide if they're keeping eight or nine linemen. Matt Tobin, David Molk, and Dennis Kelly likely have roster spots.

Linebacker

Najee Goode is a talented inside linebacker who could miss the cut because the team is deep at the position. Goode is a candidate to be traded. Diaheem Watkins joined the team during training camp and impressed at outside linebacker, but he also could be affected by a numbers crunch.

Defensive back

Denzel Rice is trying to make the team at cornerback, where he's competing with Jaylen Watkins. Ed Reynolds and Jerome Couplin are vying to be the Eagles' fourth safety - unless they keep both.

- Zach BermanEndText