Philadelphia Eagles rumors: “Big” roster move still feels unlikely
By David Esser
Heavy rumors have circulated around the Philadelphia Eagles all offseason long. Whether it was connecting the team to a major trade-up on draft night, or linking them to the likes of Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson, NFL insiders around the league seem convinced that Howie Roseman has at least one more major trick up his sleeve.
In the latest report, ESPN’s Dianni Russini stated that she believes “they’re (the Eagles) going to wind up doing something big before the start of the season to improve their roster.”
People took this as meaning Watson, which has been the running them all offseason long. The Eagles are in the best position to pull off a trade of that magnitude due to the war chest of 2022 first round picks that they possess, and it seems like a foregone conclusion that Watson won’t be playing another snap with the Texans due to a variety of different reasons.
Watson had publicly demanded a trade prior to his sexual assault allegations, and the Texans just used their top 2021 draft asset on a quarterback. The door on Watson returning to Houston seems very closed at the moment.
Hard to imagine the Philadelphia Eagles pulling off anymore “big moves.”
However, as much as reporters like to throw out the notion of some “big move” looming overhead the Eagles, it still feels like an extremely unlikely proposition. Trading for Watson prior to his current civil cases being resolved is a disaster waiting to happen, and there’s a half-decent argument to be made that trading for Watson – even if he were to be cleared of all allegations – would still be a mistake. The Eagles aren’t “a quarterback away” from contending for a Super Bowl right now, and Watson carries a lofty salary number moving forward.
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It’s also worth mentioning that the Eagles have already made a fair number of “big moves” this offseason. Trading away Carson Wentz for a conditional first round pick was obviously franchise altering, they gathered an additional first rounder by trading down from 6 to 12, and then landed Heisman winner DeVonta Smith on draft night by trading back up into the top ten.
That’s quite the number of significant transactions to make in one offseason as it is.
It’s possible that Russini is referring to some sort of alternate move in free agency or via trade, a move to potentially address the team’s vacant CB2 job.
Steven Nelson and Richard Sherman are both still available to be signed, however I wouldn’t personally go as far as to call either “big” additions should the team land one. Neither player would hypothetically push the Eagles into contention in the slightest.
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I hate to cast doubt on reporters, but it’s hard to imagine Roseman pulling off something this offseason that warrants so much speculation and hype. The team has made it pretty clear they are looking to rebuild this year, and likely won’t make any major “win now” moves until 2022.