No one could have seen Jordan Davis being traded from the Philadelphia Eagles as a real possibility. However, general manager Howie Roseman did it in a way that reminds fans he still has that magic.
The Eagles secured a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick from the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Davis trade. Jacksonville originally called Philly to see whether Moro Ojomo was available for a trade, but Philly said he wasn't, and Davis entered the conversation.
Roseman has made two significant in-season trades within a day of the trade deadline: Davis to the Jaguars and center Cam Jurgens to the Baltimore Ravens. Although the past year in moves hasn't been the best, the Eagles' general manager seems to be hitting his stride at the right time.
Howie Roseman seems to have nailed both of his in-season trades with Eagles
The Jurgens trade was a massive steal for the Eagles. Roseman got a 2027 fifth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick. Philly gave Baltimore Jurgens and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
While Jurgens was a Pro Bowler in 2024 and 2025, it still was not a great end to his time in Philly. His back injury during the 2024 playoffs really affected his performance last year and this season. When the Eagles traded him, Jurgens had the second-worst Pro Football Focus grade among NFL guards.
Davis was in a similar boat when Roseman traded him away. Despite a career season in 2025 and an offseason contract extension, Davis hasn't been as good this year as Philly hoped. He's been solid, but hasn't matched the value of the contract he signed.
Heck, look at the A.J. Brown trade to the New England Patriots during the summer, where they got a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. Brown had regressed over the last two seasons with the Eagles to the point that he had 1,003 yards last year, the lowest he has had in his four years in Philly.
What do all of these trades have in common? They are all regressing stars that Roseman traded for at the right time and struck while the iron was hot.
These trades gave the Eagles two first-round picks and two second-round picks over the next three seasons. That's the Howie magic Eagles fans have missed in him.
Howie Roseman needed these Eagles trades after the recent string of bad moves
These trades came at a good time for Roseman, who is partially to blame for some of the 2026 struggles.
His decision to trade for Andy Dalton from the Carolina Panthers hurt the team at quarterback after the team decided to carry four quarterbacks for the first quarter of the season. It killed their momentum in the Week 3 loss to the Chicago Bears after Dalton's interception inside the Bears' five-yard line.
The Jonathan Greenard trade with the Minnesota Vikings in the 2026 NFL Draft hasn't worked out well so far, as injuries have plagued his season. He did get a sack in the Eagles' Week 9 loss to the New York Giants, so things could still improve for Greenard.
Even moves dating back to last year, like the trade for Jaire Alexander, who ended up not playing a down for the Eagles. Add in the Jakorian Bennett trade in the preseason last season, from which he has since been released and who didn't do much for the Eagles. While the Jaelan Phillips trade saved the defense in 2025, the Eagles let him sign with the Carolina Panthers in free agency this past offseason, and he arguably had a better season than Greenard.
Roseman's draft picks from last year haven't exactly worked out either. From the 2025 class, Jihaad Campbell and Andrew Mukuba are...fine, but not game-changing. Makai Lemon is starting to flash a bit from this year's rookie class, but Eli Stowers and Markel Bell have struggled in their roles.
Giving credit where credit is due: since the NFL Draft, Roseman has done a really good job. The trades involving Brown, Jurgens, and Davis are really good value moves for multiple first- and second-round picks that will make a difference over the next three years.
Read more: Eagles' Jordan Davis trade is sparking a Jim Schwartz conversation that's needed
These moves shouldn't be mistaken for rebuilding moves. Roseman is simply retooling the roster, which in turn should put the Eagles back in the conversation as a really good football team in 2027 and beyond.
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