(Audacy) The Eagles had a chance to acquire a fourth first-round pick in 2022 NFL Draft but instead chose to stay put to select Alabama receiver DeVonta Smith in the NFL Draft last spring, according to a new report.
Before the Bears finalized their deal with the Giants to acquire the No. 11 pick that they used to select Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, they tried to swing a deal with the Eagles, reporter Mike Garafolo said in an appearance on NFL Network on Wednesday. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman turned the Bears down.
"Now, Howie Roseman came into this season saying, 'I know we're starting to plan for the future,'" Garafolo said. "That's why he compiled those three (first-round) draft picks. He had an opportunity to get a fourth, by the way. When the Bears were trading up -- and they would have traded up with the Eagles instead of the Giants -- Roseman said, 'No, I like DeVonta Smith and believe he's going to have an immediate impact on our team.' So he selected DeVonta Smith."
What wasn't immediately clear here is whether the Bears would've been trading up to No. 12 -- which was the Eagles' original pick -- or the No. 10 slot that Philadelphia ultimately selected Smith at.
Either way, the Eagles likely would've been looking at a similar package to what the Giants obtained from the Bears. To move up to No. 11 to select Fields, the Bears sent the Giants their No. 20 overall pick -- which New York used on receiver Kadarius Toney -- and as well as a first-round pick and fourth-rounder in 2022. The first-round pick that the Bears gave up in 2022 is currently on track to be the No. 8 overall pick, which is higher than any of the three first-round picks the Eagles are scheduled to have in the spring.
Still, it's hard to think that the Eagles have any sort of buyer's remorse with Smith, the former Heisman Trophy winner who has 61 catches for 875 yards in his first NFL season. That puts him 37 yards away from DeSean Jackson's franchise rookie record for receiving yards.
Besides seemingly landing a star receiver, the Eagles also likely blocked the Giants from taking Smith. Whether the Eagles had traded down with the Bears from No. 12 or No. 10, the Giants likely would've been able to sit at No. 11 and select Smith if not for the Eagles leapfrogging them in a trade with the Cowboys.
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