For the second year in a row the Eagles have made a big trade weeks before the NFL Draft.
And for the second year in a row it looks to be a steal for the Eagles.
The Eagles have made a huge trade with the New Orleans Saints, acquiring a first-round pick in the 2023 draft, an asset they have been looking for as they continue to try to keep their options open at quarterback.
The details of the trade:
Eagles receive:
No. 18 pick in 2022 NFL Draft
No. 101 pick in 2022 NFL Draft
No. 237 pick in 2022 NFL Draft
2023 1st-round pick
2024 2nd-round pick
Saints receive:
No. 16 pick in 2022 NFL Draft
No. 19 pick in 2022 NFL Draft
No. 194 pick in 2022 NFL Draft
The trade means the Eagles no longer have three first-round picks, but they are loaded with picks moving forward. They received around 890 extra points in the trade value using the NFL Draft Value Chart, roughly the value of the 18th pick in the draft — meaning they essentially got a 2nd-round pick in the 2024 draft for free.
The Saints pick could end up be being a good one as they are set to go into 2022 with a new head coach and Jameis Winston at quarterback.
A look at their picks in the first three rounds in the upcoming drafts:
2022:
No. 15
No. 18
2nd Round Pick
3rd Round Pick
3rd Round Pick (Saints)
2023:
1st Round Pick
1st Round Pick (Saints)
2nd Round Pick
3rd Round Pick
2024:
1st Round Pick
2nd Round Pick
2nd Round Pick (Saints)
3rd Round Pick
This trade will be viewed as the team not having confidence in Hurts and in some way it is — this is a move that gives them a ton of flexibility moving forward in the draft. They are now able to be big-time players in any move up the draft board, better suited than most teams to do so if they want. Any major move up the board usually comes for a quarterback — and having extra picks to trade for a veteran that might come available is a positive as well.
But while there is surely a Hurts angle to this trade, it is also just good business. The Eagles are now loaded with draft picks in the 2022, 2023 and 2024 draft. That gives them a ton of options outside of just the quarterback position. Any smart team would/should make this trade, regardless of who their quarterback is.
It might not be exciting now, as they likely won’t be making three first-round picks, but it was a smart trade by Howie Roseman.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com