Inside the Iggles
FanSided

Grading the Philadelphia Eagles opening week of the NFL New Year

By Justin Grasso

NEW ORLEANS, LA - SEPTEMBER 9: DeSean Jackson #11 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates in the end zone with a dance after catching a touchdown pass against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 9, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Buccaneers defeated the Saints 48-40. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - SEPTEMBER 9: DeSean Jackson #11 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates in the end zone with a dance after catching a touchdown pass against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 9, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Buccaneers defeated the Saints 48-40. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 25: Defensive end Michael Bennett #77 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates a sack against the New York Giants during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Eagles won 25-22. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 25: Defensive end Michael Bennett #77 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates a sack against the New York Giants during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Eagles won 25-22. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Michael Bennett, DE

Traded to the Patriots for a 2020 fifth-round pick

Trading Michael Bennett to the New England Patriots for a 2020 fifth-round pick wasn’t Howie Roseman’s brightest moment during this offseason. There haven’t been any rumors about Bennett actually demanding more money, aside from his simple statement made on television. Bennett claimed that he was asked to take a pay cut, which he logically declined. Then, he followed up his statement by saying he actually believes he should get paid more. That’s it.

After hearing that, the Eagles wasted no time trying to move Bennett. There were rumors that Bennett’s name was being shopped around in trades at the NFL Combine, but the trade calls didn’t really heat up until Bennett started talking.

Seeing as though Bennett is a 33-year-old pass rusher clearly on the wrong end of his career, the Eagles clearly weren’t anticipating big offers for him. But in all reality though, they gave up their most productive defensive end from last season for a future fifth-round pick, while extending one of their own for a nice payday.

The Graham signing shouldn’t have dictated what the Eagles did with Bennett. It was a good decision to bring Graham back, but trading away the best defensive end on the team, rather than trying to work something out with him seems a bit off. Asking Bennett to take a pay cut was a foolish move by the Eagles. Trading him to the Patriots for a future fifth-rounder wasn’t all that great of a move either.

Grade: D

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