This season has been a roller coaster for the Philadelphia Eagles. They go into Week 6 with a 2-3 record after coming away with a gut-wrenching 19-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The offense was once again a problem area for this team, and some of those flaws will fall on the offensive line, taking a step back. That was once a strength for this team, but the tables have turned. General manager Howie Roseman understands that and is open to finding improvements upfront.
Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer revealed on his unCovering the Birds podcast last week that the Eagles have been making some calls around the league.
"I also think Roseman could reload at the position. A couple NFL sources told me he was shopping for a starting caliber offensive lineman as of Wednesday,” McLane said.
With it being known that Roseman is looking at starting offensive linemen on the block, he should keep a close eye on Colts guard Quenton Nelson and consider making a move for him.
Howie Roseman should have another major move in mind for the Eagles
Nelson has been a name that has emerged as a potential trade candidate. He's in Indianapolis, where they currently sit at 2-3. While the Colts are still alive, if they rack up losses ahead of the deadline and are out of the playoff mix, they could look to unload the guard.
He's in the last year of his deal and is poised to hit free agency. Instead of possibly losing him for nothing, they could look to get some draft capital in exchange for him. While it'll likely cost a second-rounder to acquire Nelson, it would be a deal that's worth it.
Over his nine-year career, Nelson has been one of the best guards in the NFL. He's an eight-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro. He's a terrific people mover in the run game while being a stonewall in pass protection.
This season, he has been outstanding once again for the Colts. In five games, he has allowed five pressures, but has logged zero penalties and sacks allowed. According to PFF, Nelson owns an 88.3 overall grade (2nd among 75 graded guards), an 86.6 run-blocking grade (3rd among 75 graded guards), and a 75.9 pass-blocking grade (13th among 75 graded guards).
He is still at the height of his game, and with the Eagles needing better production up front, they should certainly consider making a move for him if he's up for grabs.
The Eagles just got a 2028 second-round pick from the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for Cam Jurgens. With how poorly he was playing, that had to be thought of as a great return. And if they can get a player of Nelson's caliber for a second-rounder, they should do it.
Of course, Philadelphia would need to extend Nelson, but the Eagles have the money to do so. Currently, the Eagles have $36 million in cap space in 2026 and $91 million in 2027, per OverTheCap.
Philadelphia would be able to get an extension for two to three years in the books, and they would immediately have one of the best left sides on the OL in the NFL, with Nelson and Jordan Mailata.
That would raise the ceiling of the offense and have a positive ripple effect on both the run and pass. It would also push Willie Lampkin back to a depth piece. He made his first start versus Jacksonville and had a tough contest. In his debut, Lampkin gave up five pressures and four QB hurries.
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While he could stabilize, a player like Nelson is in a class of his own. With it already being reported that Philadelphia is looking for upgrades on the offensive line, there wouldn't be a better option on the trade market than Nelson. He's a player who is worth the draft compensation AND a big-money extension.
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