Ah, another Philadelphia Eagles potential scenario where general manager Howie Roseman makes a wild trade.
There was a lot of chatter about the Eagles trading for Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby, as reports said they were talking before he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens, but that deal has since been backed out. ESPN senior NFL writer Bill Barnwell shared an all-trades first-round mock draft, as he likes the Eagles striking a deal with the Raiders to get Crosby.
Eagles get: Edge Maxx Crosby
Raiders get: 23rd overall pick, 2027 third-round pick, Edge Nolan Smith Jr.
"With a predilection for trades and an affinity for elite defensive linemen, Howie Roseman's Eagles have always been on the fringes of the Crosby sweepstakes. The issue is money. Philly is spending a whopping $219 million on their offense this season, and though the defense comes in at just over $86 million, those figures will change in the years to come. Jordan Davis just got paid, and D-line partner Jalen Carter should be next. Cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are about to get much bigger deals after 2026. The Eagles will have to shift some money from offense to the defense, and spending a ton on Crosby won't make that process easier."
Eagles get Maxx Crosby in mock draft, but would it actually happen?
While everyone wants to attach Roseman to every insane trade, it doesn't mean that he would actually do it. The Eagles don't have the cap needed to make a deal happen, and it would completely go against everything the team is doing for the future.
Roseman is heavily focused on building the roster through the draft, and if they succeed, reward them with long-term contract extensions. This has worked well with guys like Jordan Davis, DeVonta Smith, Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, and many more.
The trade itself would not be a bad deal for the Eagles as they only give up a first, third, and Nolan Smith Jr. in the process. Jalyx Hunt has shown more potential anyway, so moving Smith would be a good option for Philly.
Read more: Eagles can't afford to wait on drafting for position that no fan is thinking about
It still feels hard to believe that the one, the Eagles, would actually try to get a deal done, and two, the Raiders would accept just one first-round pick in a Crosby deal. Roseman might try it, but this trade idea feels more like a fantasy than anything, and it's time for everyone to move on.