When the story of the 2026 NFL trade deadline is permanently etched in the annals of history, one name will be prominently featured early in the telling: Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman.
Yes, other teams made deals as well, some of which involved pretty major draft capital, but no one secured more draft capital in 2026 than Roseman, who pulled off his third major draft deal of the 2026 calendar year and fully restocked the Eagles' coffers as they look forward to rebuilding their roster around an abundance of top-60 draft talent.
Famously at this point, the Eagles will now have 10 first- or second-round picks over the next three years, including two first-round picks – their own and the Jacksonville Jaguars' – and their own second in 2027, two first- and two second-round picks in 2028 belonging to the New England Patriots, themselves, and the Baltimore Ravens, respectively – and their own first plus theirs and the Jaguars' second-round pick in 2029. They can move up or back as they'd like with ease, as Roseman has 17 additional picks over the next three drafts and the potential to either build around Jalen Hurts or draft his successor as they look ahead to the future.
And the best part? Roseman didn't even have to give up any of his “core” players to get the deals done, with an aging wide receiver with just 101 yards on the season, a struggling interior offensive lineman, and a two-down run-stuffing defensive tackle shipped off to secure two more first-round picks and two more second-rounders.
Needless to say, for the next three years, Eagles fans will have to keep a close eye on the NFL Draft, as they have the potential to add multiple extra high-profile pieces from each class, but now, with the trade deadline over and the Birds on the bye, it's worth grading Roseman's overall 2026 trade haul in order to give him his flowers for a successful stint as a seller.
Trading AJ Brown for a 2028 first-round pick looks genius
When it became blatantly apparent that AJ Brown would not be returning to the Eagles in 2026, fans openly wondered two things: did the Eagles get enough back for their WR1, and would they be able to overcome his absence on offense?
When it comes to the latter, it's really hard to say, as the Eagles haven't had their expected starting wide receiver trio of DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, and Makai Lemon playing alongside Hurts in a game since all the way back in Week 4 against the Chicago Bears.
But regarding the former? Goodness, Roseman looks like a darn genius for trading away Brown early before his availability fell off a cliff.
Since landing in New England in June, Brown has appeared in just three games for the Patriots, catching nine of the 20 balls thrown his way for just 101 yards and no touchdowns as a member of Mike Vrabel's unit. Brown suffered an ankle injury back in September that resulted in a trip to IR, and has been dealing with a knee issue that has held him out of action over the past two weeks.
Really, the only complaint a fan could have about this trade is that Roseman didn't get a first-round pick in 2027 for Brown as his team sits at 5-4, but considering how the 2027 quarterback class has shaken out as of mid-November, a massive run at signal callers may not push more blue-chip talents into the teens and 20s, so having another bite at the apple in 2028 isn't the worst-case scenario.
Grade: A
Trading Cam Jurgens for a 2028 second-round pick looks even better
While the decision to trade Brown after an incredible four-year run was mildly controversial because of just how much success he had in South Philadelphia, when Roseman made the surprise call to trade Cam Jurgens to the Baltimore Ravens for a 2028 second-round pick, the decision was near-universally lauded.
Like Brown, Jurgens was a key member of the Eagles' two most recent Super Bowl runs. But unlike Brown, Jurgens' game had pretty much fallen off a cliff when he was moved for premium draft capital, with 2025 fifth-round pick Drew Kendall actually playing better at center than the two-time Pro Bowler under new offensive line coach Chris Kuper.
A bottom-3 interior offensive lineman in terms of Pro Football Focus grades when the deal was struck, Jurgens has remained a problem as part of Declan Doyle's offense to the point where Eric DeCosta had to trade Andrew Vorhees and a conditional 2028 sixth-round pick for Ryan Neuzil just before the deadline.
With Jacoby Brissett now locked in at QB1 until Lamar Jackson returns – if that even happens – it will be interesting to see if Jurgens remains at center or moves to guard to make way for Neuzil, where he played early in his career when Jason Kelce was still on the team. Still, that's the Ravens' problem, not the Eagles', and Roseman deserves credit for turning an oft-injured player who appears to have lost a step into a premium draft pick, even if it comes in 2028 instead of 2027.
Grade: A+
The Eagles gained more than they lost by moving on from Jordan Davis
And last but not least – because the Cincinnati Bengals pulled out of a move to acquire Arnold Ebiketie – while the Eagles lost a lot by trading away Jordan Davis – their best run stuffer, a locker room leader, and a positive force in an otherwise disappointing season – they received far more in return in the form of draft compensation, to the point where many called it the biggest steal of the entire deadline.
A two-down player who has only played more than 60 percent of his team's defensive snaps once during his professional career, Davis doesn't do much as a pass rusher but is one of the most athletic players in the NFL at his size, with the potential to be unstoppable if he can figure it all out and become a true three-down player.
Nine games into his fifth season with the Eagles, that hadn't happened, and while it doesn't seem like Roseman was actively shopping him, it's clear the team was more interested in pairing Moro Ojomo with Jalen Carter over Davis long-term. Still, the Jaguars clearly believe in Davis' ceiling and were willing to give up a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick to get the deal done.
Will Davis be missed? Absolutely, as his teammates were disappointed to see him go – even if they were happy to see him go to a contender – and Davis was sad to leave during his final comments at the Philadelphia International Airport. Fortunately, he now gets to gun for another Super Bowl while the Eagles could easily add two more future starters at more premium positions, making this move a major win-win, even if, from a draft capital perspective, the Jaguars were really dinged for how much they surrendered to get the deal done.
Grade: A