Imagine if the Philadelphia Eagles had looked good and beaten the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7. It might have influenced them to trade for big names like Quenton Nelson.
The Eagles are coming off a 38-21 loss to the Cowboys on Monday Night Football after the defense allowed 416 yards, with zero turnovers, zero sacks, and no quarterback hits or tackles for loss. The offense managed 321 yards but still struggled, allowing QB pressures and multiple sacks.
Nelson surfaced in trade rumors after the Indianapolis Colts fired their general manager, Chris Ballard, and started the season 2-5. The Colts did end up trading Nelson on Tuesday, but that Monday Night Football showdown with the Eagles might have cost them.
Eagles might have missed out on Quenton Nelson because of Week 7 Cowboys game
The first major trade, two weeks before the trade deadline on November 10, saw the Colts send Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for two draft picks. Indianapolis would then make a second trade, sending defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers for a draft pick.
Nelson has been an eight-time Pro Bowl offensive guard and is most likely headed to his ninth selection. He'll come in to help the Seahawks' offensive line with pass protection and run blocking.
ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler learned from a source that the Eagles were one of three teams in talks to trade for Nelson. Philly likely wanted someone to replace either Landon Dickerson at left guard or Tyler Steen at right guard.
Let's face it, though: the Eagles didn't execute that trade because they're 2-5 this season. Giving up a third-round pick for Nelson was too high a price for Philly, since they had already traded two to get Jonathan Greenard as part of the draft-day trade with the Minnesota Vikings (and we all know how well that's worked out so far). Plus, Nelson is on an expiring contract, which means the Eagles would have to spend more money they don't have right now.
If the Eagles were 3-4 or 4-3 at this point in the season, trading for Nelson would have made 100% sense. That instantly fixes the Dickerson problem after allowing four pressures for the second straight start at left guard. Being so far behind in the season, though, doesn't make sense to make a trade like that.
What now for the Eagles after missing out on Quenton Nelson?
Philly probably won't be as active in the market over the next two weeks as buyers. The Eagles will likely be in reports that general manager Howie Roseman called about certain top players, hoping the team can turn things around. With the franchise in its current state, though, that won't happen.
If anything, the Eagles will sell, sell, and sell more. Players like Dickerson, Moro Ojomo, Nolan Smith Jr., Riq Woolen, Dallas Goedert, and more will be in trade talks to leave the franchise by November 10.
Roseman's goal will be to load up on as many draft picks as possible over the next two weeks to prepare for the offseason. The Eagles will face a large dead cap charge, leaving them with no choice but to rebuild through the draft, sign one-year cheap deals in free agency, or trade for young players on one or two more years of their rookie deals.
Anything else outside that would be a bad move for Roseman. He needs to start thinking about getting younger on offense and loading up on young talent, while potentially finding a new head coach, with Nick Sirianni's seat being flaming hot after five straight losses.
Read more: Eagles' $328 million investment in defensive line this offseason backfired in Week 7
Nelson would have been a great addition to the team, but the Eagles can't do it right now. They're setting themselves up for what looks like a very busy offseason as they rebuild the franchise.
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