Let’s update the Eagles transaction list after free agency day 1:

  • Josh Sweat to the Cardinals
  • Milton Williams to the Patriots
  • Oren Burks to the Bengals
  • Isaiah Rodgers to the Vikings
  • Kenny Pickett traded to Cleveland for Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a 5th round pick
  • Darius Slay to the Steelers
  • Zack Baun stays on a new contract
  • Saquon Barkley gets paid
  • James Bradberry released

None of this should bother you, for three reasons.

#1 – The Super Bowl high should not yet have worn off. It’s been a little more than five weeks since the Eagles throttled the Chiefs in what amounted to the greatest performance in franchise history. That high should last longer than Cypress Hill hitting the double barrel bong live on stage.

#2 – Most of these moves were expected months ago. Everyone knew they had free agents who needed to be paid. They deserved to be paid. We should all be happy that Milton Williams got $26 million per year from New England. Same with Josh Sweat, who played the game of his life and then cashed in via Jonathan Gannon reunion. Isaiah Rodgers was a restricted free agent and not guaranteed to stay. Slay was likely on his last year, and we knew that. The Eagles made it a priority to lock up their stud linebacker and the running back who went for more than 2,500 yards. They had their priorities in order.

#3 – Howie Roseman is the general manager. The projection is a 3rd round compensatory pick for Williams and a 4th rounder for Sweat. That’s very good, especially considering that Howie hasn’t missed a pick in the top three rounds for three years now. And his excellent recent drafting record is the reason why they’re in a position to lose these guys in the first place. Even after the departures of Slay, Rodgers, and Bradberry, they have Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and Kelee Ringo. They like Moro Ojomo and Jaylx Hunt to take on bigger roles as 2nd and 3rd year players, respectively. Burks was starting because Nakobe Dean was injured. No problem. Dean is coming back and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. will be a sophomore. Throw in the natural picks the Eagles have at 32, 64, and 96, and they are equipped to bolster the EDGE group, grab a guard, and/or add a corner for some secondary depth. All of the departing guys are being replaced by young players on rookie deals.


Plus, flipping Kenny Pickett for DTR and a 5th is a slick bit of business. Tanner McKee is QB2 quality. You know it, I know it, and Howie knows it. So DTR comes in to be the third stringer and they get a mid-round pick coming back. 5th round picks can be a crapshoot, no duh, but over the years they’ve snagged players like Kenny G, Big V, and Trot Jr. in the fifth. It also gives Howie another piece to package as he inevitably slides around the board on days two and three.

In Howie we trust. No issues with anything the Eagles have done so far. It’s gonna be 68 degrees today anyway, there’s nothing to worry about.