Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman insists he’s playing the long game after a head-scratching trade.
On Wednesday, the Eagles agreed to send two-time Pro Bowl center Cam Jurgens and a 2027 seventh-rounder to the Baltimore Ravens for a 2027 fifth-rounder and a 2028 second-rounder. Philadelphia trading one of its offensive line staples, especially after 14-year right tackle Lane Johnson announced his retirement Tuesday night, raised eyebrows.
Roseman discussed the trade in a news conference. The GM said the deal materialized quickly and it’s not a sign the 2-2 Eagles are punting on the season.
Howie Roseman speaks on Cam Jurgens trade
“You can’t discount opportunities that you think give you a chance to compete at a high level for a long period of time,” Roseman said (h/t The Athletic’s Zach Berman).
Roseman added that the deal is a “win-win,” as the Ravens fill one of their biggest holes, while the Eagles move up in the 2027 draft. Philadelphia is losing a stalwart in Jurgens, but the GM is confident second-year O-lineman Drew Kendall (who’s playing center) will continue to emerge as a quality starter.
Kendall, a 2025 fifth-round pick out of Boston College, has blown just six blocks (five passing, one running) and drawn one penalty on 177 snaps, per Sports Info Solutions. Jurgens, meanwhile, moved to left guard after the Eagles placed Landon Dickerson (knee) on injured reserve following Week 1. The O-lineman struggled in that spot, blowing four blocks but committing four penalties on 228 snaps (via SIS).
Jurgens is in the second year of a four-year, $68M deal. Kendall flashing promise seemingly convinced the Eagles to choose the cheaper option. He’s entering the second year of a four-year, $4.55M deal.
“I think for us, when you talk about the two and five, moving from the seventh to the fifth. We’ve had success in the fifth round, plus the money, plus Drew playing, we felt like we were getting four players for one,” Roseman said. “And just felt like for us, you know, with all these guys that we got coming up, on the defensive side of the ball that we want to re-sign and extend, felt like that was a good situation.”
Cornerback Riq Woolen and defensive lineman Moro Ojomo are among those defensive contributors who will be free agents in 2027. Trading Jurgens, however, doesn’t create the cap space needed to re-sign them. Per Spotrac co-founder Michael Ginnitti, the Eagles forfeit $6.1M in 2027 cap space by trading Jurgens.
Cap space is highly maneuverable. A successful GM, like two-time Super Bowl champion Roseman, usually finds a way to create more.
Until then, Roseman better hope Kendall blossoms into a viable replacement for Jurgens. The Eagles need solid O-line play to rebound after consecutive losses to the Chicago Bears (27-7) and Los Angeles Rams (24-20), and some of that hinges on the second-year center improving over the season.
