Philadelphia Eagles GM Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni
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Philadelphia Eagles GM Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni
While we don’t know exactly how things will play out, it’s not unfair to say the current group of Philadelphia Eagles edge rushers doesn’t inspire much confidence.
Former 1st round pick Nolan Smith is undersized and can’t seem to stay healthy. Former 3rd round pick Jalyx Hunt showed promise with 6.5 sacks in 2025, but that only came after he went MIA for the first 2 months of the season — he didn’t have his first sack until Week 8.
What does that tell us? The Eagles need a bona fide game wrecker at edge rusher.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton predicts that might be the perfect situation for Eagles general manager Howie Roseman to wield all of his power and expertise to pull off a “surprise” trade for Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby.
It’s a deal that probably can’t get done until the Eagles trade wide receiver A.J. Brown because of the financial implications, but it’s most certainly a deal that can be done — but only if the Raiders can come off their asking price of 2 1st round picks.
Brown and Crosby have similarly structured contracts. Brown signed a 3-year, $96 million extension before the 2024 season, and Crosby signed a 3-year, $106.5 million extension before the 2025 season.
“Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is always lurking in the shadows of trade chatter,” Moton wrote on Saturday. “If anyone is capable of making a bold move for an edge-rusher, it’s him. If the Eagles trade wide receiver A.J. Brown, who’s a hot name in the rumor mill, they should be able to absorb Crosby’s contract. Philadelphia needs a star pass-rusher to close games on the defensive side of the ball. Jalyx Hunt is an ascending talent, but Nolan Smith has just 10.5 sacks in three seasons.”
Bizarre Aborted Trade Drove Down Asking Price
If the Eagles have an angle to getting Crosby, it has to come with the Raiders changing the price from 2 1st round picks to something more like just the single 1st round pick and another Day 2 or Day 3 pick — nothing past the 3rd round.
All of this is only possible because of one of the crazier transactions/non-transactions in NFL history.
It all started on March 6, when the Raiders and Ravens agreed to a trade that sent Crosby to Baltimore in exchange for the Ravens’ 2026 and 2027 1st round picks.
On Tuesday night, the Raiders issued a prepared statement saying the Ravens had backed out of the trade after Crosby flew to Baltimore and reportedly failed his physical — something that should have come as no surprise to anyone involved, given he had meniscus surgery in January.
The fact the Ravens signed All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson to a 4-year, $112 million contract right after backing out of the Crosby trade has made the franchise and general manager Eric DeCosta instant NFL villains.
“The Ravens and Eric DeCosta are being called dishonest and dishonorable among NFL circles,” ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said on Thursday morning. “I’m not saying that, but we have an obligation to point out that’s what is being said about him. I don’t know Eric DeCosta from a can of paint, but people in NFL circles, because of how this was handled, are saying that. That’s why he came out with his press conference and said whatever he said — where he tried to act contrite — because he knows it’s not a good look for him in the NFL community.”