A trio of intriguing subplots as the Philadelphia Eagles add Robert Quinn

Is there no end to his brilliance? Philadelphia Eagles vice president general manager Howie Roseman has done it again, pulling off another spectacular acquisition. This one is by way of a trade as the Birds acquire edge rusher Robert Quinn in exchange for a fourth-round draft choice.

While the trade deadline for the 2022 NFL season isn’t until November 1st, Howie is staying true to his aggressive approach. Robert Quinn is a huge addition to the Eagles’ defense and pass rush as they’ve seemingly been thin since defensive end Derek Barnett was lost to a torn ACL earlier this season.

Quinn was named a First-Team All-Pro following the 2013 NFL season and a Second-Team All-Pro following the 2021 campaign. He’s a three-time Pro Bowler who has appeared in 163 regular-season games with 142 starts. That has led to 102 sacks and 367 total tackles, including 109 tackles that have resulted in a loss of yardage. He has also forced 32 fumbles in his first 11 seasons. In other words, he has one of the most impressive resumes of all active edge rushers.

This is a massive addition to Philadelphia’s defense, but that’s only part of the story. Here are two of the best stories that have come out of another Eagles roster upgrade.

Howie Roseman didn’t just acquire Robert Quinn. He got the Bears to pick up the tab.

At a glance, the Eagles’ trade for Robert Quinn seems unaffordable. His salary is massive. According to Over The Cap, he will command an average value of $13.2 million over the 2022, 2023, and 2024 NFL seasons.

Philadelphia’s fans can breathe more easily knowing that, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, “The Bears will be picking up most of the remaining salary for Robert Quinn… So, this trade will cost the Eagles draft capital but not a lot of money”.

While it is not sure how much of Robert Quinn’s remaining salary the Bears will pay, Howie Roseman and the Eagles did a phenomenal job getting the Bears to pay for over half of the $39.6 million remaining on his deal.

Here’s a look at where the Eagles stand financially following the deal.

Prior to the Robert Quinn trade, the Philadelphia Eagles had $10.2 million remaining in salary cap space for 2022 with $16.6 million still available for 2023 and $47.6 million still remaining for 2023.

While these numbers will change once the details of the trade are official, it is incredible that the Eagles could acquire Robert Quinn for only a fourth-round pick. Then again, that could be a part of why the deal was affordable.

The Eagles are in an excellent position to extend their quarterback, Jalen Hurts for the 2024 season and beyond if they choose to extend him this offseason, and get this. The Eagles may not be done.

Six days remain before we reach the NFL’s trade deadline. Expect Howie Roseman to continue working the phones.

Robert Quinn won’t just fill the vacated role of Derek Barnett. He’ll thrive in it.

Robert Quinn is a perfect addition to the Philadelphia Eagles’ already dominant defense. The Eagles are out to a 6-0 start on the 2022 NFL season, but understand they can’t take their foot off of the gas pedal.

Quinn provides adds a veteran presence to a locker room already bursting at the seams with veteran playmakers. Darius Slay, James Bradberry, Haason Reddick, and Kyzir White are just a handful of their playmakers. None of those guys were drafted by this team, but Philly is loaded with homegrown talent as well.

Fletcher Cox, Jordan Davis, and Brandon Graham were all top-13 draft choices. Josh Sweat was a fourth-rounder. Don’t forget about Javon Hargrave as he’s been dominant on the Eagles’ defensive line since joining the team prior to the 2019 season.

Collectively, Cox, Davis, Graham, Sweat, and Hargrave have combined for 9.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and a couple of forced fumbles. Robert Quinn joins the fray now and will be a fantastic rotational piece. His workload may decrease, but that will keep the veteran fresh for an entire four quarters.

Make no mistake about it. Philadelphia’s defense, one that was already a nightmare for opposing offensive coordinators, is set to explode moving forward. The sky is the limit for a team that’s already flying high. The Eagles are doubling down on themselves as Super Bowl contenders while simultaneously setting themselves up for success in the years that follow.