If the Eagles want to trade up...
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If the Eagles want to trade up...
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
In 2009, the Eagles moved up two spots to draft Jeremy Maclin at No. 19, sending an additional sixth-round pick to the Browns.
The following year, they dealt a couple third-round picks to the Broncos and swapped the 24th selection for No. 13 to select Brandon Graham.
History shows they're not shy about moving up in the first round.
So the obvious question this year is: Will they stay put at No. 15? Or try to make a deal?
The Eagles have an extra second-round pick, thanks to last year's Kevin Kolb trade. I took a look at the draft trade chart, which assigns point values to different picks. The Eagles' first three picks - the 15th selection in the first round and the two second rounders (46 and 51 overall) - add up to 1,880 points.
Based on the chart, trading all three picks could get them to the fourth overall pick.
If the Eagles packaged their 15th pick with just one of the second-rounders, they could get to the No. 8 pick.
Of course, the draft chart only provides some guidelines. And as Andrew Brandt of the National Football Post pointed out, it's flawed this year since rookies won't be getting paid the same. The Eagles would have to find a willing trade partner, and as always, the market dictates everything. For example, SI.com's Peter King advises to throw away the chart when it comes to the No. 2 overall pick this year. That's because the Rams are likely to deal that pick to whichever team wants to make the most attractive bid to land Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III.
The Eagles created some buzz over the weekend when Griffin revealed that he met with the Birds at the combine. The Inquirer's Phil Sheridan wrote today about the possibility of the Eagles seriously considering moving up to land Griffin.
Meanwhile, King wrote that Griffin "really enjoyed his time" talking to Andy Reid.
And John Czarnecki of FoxSports.com gets the impression that Reid would trade Michael Vick straight up for RG3.
The truth is teams meeting with prospects at the combine is just part of the process. In the coming months, that process will continue, and select prospects will visit the Eagles' facility. Every year, there are prospects the team likes, but can't draft.
I wouldn't be surprised at all if Reid really likes Griffin. The charismatic and talented QB seems to be liked by most at this point, which is why the Rams are in great position to get teams into a bidding war for that No. 2 pick.
Having said that, I've reached the point where I won't rule anything out with the Eagles. Not after they surprised us with the Nnamdi Asomugha signing, the Michael Vick signing and the Donovan McNabb trade to the Redskins in recent years.
One other thing to keep in mind - not necessarily as it pertains to Griffin, but as it relates to draft trades - is that the Eagles are in position to trade players too. DeSean Jackson could be a trade chip if they franchise him. And Asante Samuel could be dealt too.
In other words, the Eagles have some pieces they can use to get creative and move up if they covet a prospect who is unlikely to last to the 15th pick.
If you missed my weekend posts, I offered some thoughts on the Eagles' quarterback situation as a whole and updated the most recent developments in the wide receiver market.
UPDATE (2:30 p.m.)
After checking out some of the comments, I wanted to clarify a few things about this post:
** The point was not to show the Eagles have enough chips to trade up to No. 2 and draft Griffin. I simply wanted to show that they do have some interesting assets if they want to move up in the first round. Like I mentioned, using the draft chart, even the 15th pick and both second-rounders would only get them to the fourth pick. And the value of the No. 2 pick is probably even greater this year because of Griffin.
** I've mentioned this several times in previous posts, but it bears repeating. Samuel is still a very good player, and cornerback tends to be a coveted position. But keep in mind that he is due a reported $9.5M next season and is 31. He is also most effective in a specific system, and not the most versatile defensive back.
As for Jackson, any team wanting to acquire him (assuming the Eagles use the franchise tag) would have to meet his (and Drew Rosenhaus') demands for a new contract.
So again, both Samuel and Jackson could be valuable trade chips. But the Eagles would need to find the right suitor for each.
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no way they get him.— sore richard- Why do you think the people you don't want are so valuable that somebody else will give you something for them? Samuel has no trade value and Jackson has very little.— Bama
- Vick straight up for RGIII, ha, of course Andy will love to do that! Good luck finding any partner on the other end who won't die of laughter at the suggestion.— TXEaglesFan
- @Bama I doubt they'd actually make an attempt for Griffin but that's just an arrogant statement. Asante Samuel and Desean Jackson have no trade value. You're telling me a good cornerback and a deep threat wide receiver aren't coveted in the NFL?— stockdalec12243
- Issues with this: Reid is dictating the future of the team and tying the hands of the NEXT coach. I have a fundemental problem with that even though drafting this guy may be a good move. Of course Reid may be bullet proof in Lurie's eyes so who knows? But let's assume Lurie was issuing an ultimatum. Why would Reid trade up for RGIII knowing he won't get the Eagles over the hump THIS year? And trading enough picks to get him will only mean another sad defense is in store for the team THIS year. Now if they can package Vick and Samuel [or picks they can get for them] into some sort of parlay then have at it. But at the cost of the picks they have this year...with the holes that they HAVE to fill THIS year...I say Reid would be commiting his final act of suicide.— tpizza
- Reid isn't going anywhere. This kind of move would just cement his status as head coach beyond this current contract. laurie isn't losing any money with eagles, actually revenue has been going up and would go up much more with a trade like this. So, if laurie keeps making money, why on earth would he get rid of him? Keep dreaming. Until Eagles fans stop buying tickets and merchandise, Andy reid will be head coach — crohnkiller
- Ok Why Not Vick, DJax, Asante....For B.Marshall and #2 Pick (RG3)?? Rams Would Improve quick and Eagles Get Younger at QB bigger at WR and a better Locker Room!— SteveBlake5
- Samuel is 31 with 2 years and $20 mill left on his contract. He only wants to play his way and is not much for tackling. Sure he is good, and any team would want him, but not at that contract and salary cap hit. Jackson is good also, but probably thinks he should be making $10mill a year. There are lots of good FA receivers available. For those reasons, I agree with Bama, their trade value is low. Samuel might fetch a 3rd round if a team can renegotiate his contract. Jackson is too hard to predict because of his recent concussions and attitude problems, alot of teams won't want to touch him.— TXEaglesFan
- First off, BAMA is a troll who writes posts that indicate he knows nothing about football. Your post makes no sense because you say Samuel isn't worth anything then conjecture that he would fetch a 3rd round pick which is considered a very valuable draft round by NFL GM's. The truth is that the Eagles would struggle to get a 4th for Samuel because teams know they are financially over-committed at the position and will need to get rid of one of the guys for nothing at some point this year if they don't get taken off the hook via a trade. The problem is that for all of Sheil's claim that Samuel is limited, he was BY FAR the Eagles best corner. Lastly, everyone, including Sheil need to get up-to-date on average NFL salaries. 10 million for a top 10 corner is not expensive. Heck, C.Jenkins is a part time DT and he gets 6 million(Q. Mikell makes 7 million!). Same goes for WR. The Chargers are reported to be willing to give VJ around 11-12 million a year with 30 guaranteed so that looks to be where the market will get set. How could Franchising Djax at about 9 million be overpaying for him? The Eagles should already know what to do with Djax bc game theory makes it obvious. You franchise him with no intention of signing him this season long term while promising not to tag him next year. You re-evalutate at the end of the season. If he plays well, great, the market will be set via VJ and the Eagles sign him. If he looks scared like now, then you let him walk. DJAx can't complain as I've explained before. The guy has not made life changing money so he is desperate for the 9 million and he will be playing for a contract knowing he will be unrestricted. — UncleStosh
- Has the trade chart been updated to account for the new rookie wage scale? High picks were worth less because of the large guaranteed contracts. In recent years, teams were actively trying to trade out of the top 5. Now it's the opposite, the rookie contracts have been cut back so the picks are much more valuable.— DennyP
- If they franchise Jackson, they could possibly trade him and either one or both of the seconds for the number 2 slot.
You have to believe the Rams would love Jackson as opposed to the unknown Blackmon.— banned - All of you are talking out of your bad ends! Desean is a good trade piece and Asante is not a bad trade piece either but if the Eagles trade De-Jax and don't get anybody to replace him (V-Jax from SD) then kiss this year's try at a Super Bowl run goodbye! The Mike Vick Experience needs De-Jax to complete his "game". Maclin and Celek aren't enough. Hopefully Sahdy can duplicate his awesome season and the defense can get a viable LB to do what we need to do to make a SB run! Trade Asante? Yes. Desean? NO!— Panthro2011
- @steveblake5
If you mean Brandon Marshall, I think the Dolphins would have something to say about that— mikeyhigs - Im not sold on RGIII as an NFL QB.— NC Eagle Fan
- They'll never get Griffin. They won't trade Samuel. They won't draft a LB in the first round. They'll trade up a few places to grab another undersized D-lineman with a "high motor."— TongueWagger
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