It is Friday and camp starts in just four days — so for maybe the last time during the slowest time of the NFL offseason, let's have some fun.
On Friday it was reported that in addition to things not being great between Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, the relationship between the team and star receiver Davante Adams isn't so great either:
While it is unlikely the Packers trade either one, it is also unlikely they would trade one but not the other. Trading either would be blowing it up, and if Rodgers get moved, Adams might not want to stay — and vice versa.
So needless to say, anytime there is even a hint of speculation that a player could be traded, the Eagles are discussed as a team that could make a deal.
That was no different this time. Check out this fun, hypothetical trade thrown out by PFF analyst Sam Monson:
Could Howie Roseman pull it off?
The obvious connection to the Eagles, as Monson notes, is all the draft picks they have. With three first-round picks in 2022, as well their first-round pick in 2023 a full slate of picks in the other rounds, the Eagles have arguably the best draft capital in the NFL. So when it come to handing out picks, the Eagle could probably beat the offer from any other team.
Financially, Rodgers and Adams would cost a combined $26.95 million for the 2021 season. Obviously they would have to work out contracts for the 2022 season, and there is a good chance they would re-do the deals for both players if they traded for them, but for now, let's just go off that $26.95 million number. The Eagles currently have just $3.5 million in cap space, so they would have to trade players as well.
One deal that would work financially is a package that sent Fletcher Cox, Derek Barnett and Zach Ertz to the Packers. The three have a combined base salary of $33.5 million, and would save the Eagles right around that cap wise if traded. By packaging those three the Eagles would have the cap space to make it work. They would actually save $6.5 million, putting them at around $10 million in cap space -- enough to sign another cornerback if they wanted.
On the field, the Eagles would have an amazing offense built around Rodgers, Adams, Devonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, Miles Sanders and an offensive line that when healthy is one of the best in the NFL. The defensive line would take a hit, but they wouldn't be completely devoid of talent with Javona Hargrave, Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham and Ryan Kerrigan.
So to take it a step further, here is the proposed trade:
Packers Get:
Fletcher Cox
Zach Ertz
Derek Barnett
The Eagles 2022 1st-round pick
The Dolphins 2022 1st-round pick (owned by Eagles)
The Colts 2022 conditional 1st-round pick (owned by Eagles)
Eagles 2022 3rd-round pick
Eagles 2023 2nd-round pick
Eagles Get:
Aaron Rodgers
Davante Adams
So, as we wait for the first practice of the spring, I ask: Would you do that trade?
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
