The NFL Draft is now less than two weeks away, which means Howie Roseman has to be sitting on the second floor of the NovaCare Complex feeling antsy.
Nobody in the NFL loves to make moves more than Roseman, and draft night is his time to shine, especially this year. Armed with three picks in the first two rounds and a roster with no glaring needs, Roseman is likely going to be looking to wheel-and-deal through the draft.
Using the NFL Draft value chart, and guessing which players the Eagles might be willing to move on from, here are four potential trades Roseman could make:
No. 25 and No. 57 for No. 13 with Miami: The closer the draft gets the more it seems fans want Roseman to pull the trigger on a move up the draft board. In this deal Roseman does just that. Moving from the 20's into the high teens is a move Roseman has pulled off before, trading No. 24 and two third-round picks in 2010 to go up and get Brandon Graham at No. 13. Armed with no third-round picks in this year's draft, Roseman gives up No. 57, but in the process he gets another defensive linemen in Ed Oliver that he is hoping will have the same kind of long career Graham has had in Philadelphia. Oliver was once projected as the best defensive linemen in the draft, but his draft stock seems to have taken a hit during the post-season college draft process. Oliver, combined with Cox and Jackson, will give the Eagles a trio of defensive tackles that will make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks for years to come.
No. 53 & No. 57 for No. 27 with Oakland: The Eagles jump back into the first round in this deal with their eyes on one player — Florida safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. The Eagles have had their eyes on Gardner-Johnson, whose draft stock seems to be rising the closer the draft gets. Moving up for Gardner-Johnson makes sense for two reasons. First, it ensures they get him, giving the Eagles the do-it-all elite safety prospect they have needed for years. Second, it gives them the fifth-year option on Gardner-Johnson. If he turns into the player he is capable of, that extra year on his rookie deal is going to be crucial.
Sidney Jones for No. 68 to New York Jets: The Sidney Jones experiment still has potential, but considering how last season went, the arrow is not pointing up on Jones' time in Philadelphia. Trading Jones would clear up some confusion in the secondary, allowing Cre'von LeBlanc to be the nickel cornerback with Avonte Maddox and Jalen Mills on the outside until Ronald Darby returns. Getting a pick at the top of the 3rd-round for Jones is good value at this point, and another team will likely take a shot on Jones, as he is only two-years removed from being a potential top-10 pick. WIth this pick the Eagles could take Memphis running back Darrell Henderson.
Rasul Douglas for No. 137 to Atlanta: This deal is one Douglas likely wouldn't mind, as it finally sets him free from the bench in Philadelphia and gives him a chance to actually play and compete in Atlanta. For the Eagles, it gives them another fourth-round pick and a shot at drafting another young player at a position of need — Stanford running back Bryce Love. Love would likely go much higher than the fourth round if he wasn't coming off of an injury, and could prove to be a steal this late.
You can follow Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
