ClutchPoints
When news broke that the Cleveland Browns were finally willing to have conversations on moving two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, it made sense that the Philadelphia Eagles were one of the teams mentioned as a suitor.
A Super Bowl Champion just over one year prior, with a nucleus in place to remain competitive for years to come, even without Pro Bowl wide receiver AJ Brown, the Birds had a lot going for them in the pursuit of Garrett. With an additional first-round pick in their back pocket, albeit one acquired a few hours after Garrett landed in Los Angeles as the newest member of the Rams, Roseman could have used his considerable cache of picks and young players to make a strong push for a certified game wrecker, one who is somehow only 30 despite having played nine seasons in the league.
Well, according to SI’s Jeff Kerr, that’s exactly what they did, offering up a selection of picks plus a young edge rusher, either Nolan Smith or Jalyx Hunt, for Garrett’s services. The problem? The Browns wanted a different player, one who Howie Roseman clearly wanted to pair with Garrett, instead of have replace him on the books.
“The Los Angeles Rams ended up being the team that landed Garrett, parting ways with the premium player the Eagles were reluctant to part with. The Eagles offered either Nolan Smith or Jalyx Hunt, but neither compared to Jared Verse — who the Rams were reluctant to part ways with in order to get a deal done,” Kerr wrote.
“The Rams knew they had to trade Verse in order to net Garrett. The Eagles had a premium player like Verse that was initially discussed in trade conversations, but they balked. That player? Jalen Carter. Having Carter as the centerpiece in a Garrett trade was too rich for the Eagles’ blood. The Eagles were reluctant to part ways with a premium player that is critical for their future, even if they could have landed Garrett — a player they coveted.”
Now granted, was this the correct call for the Eagles to make? Yes. Assuming they aren’t planning to trade Carter, which would be a wild reversal at this point, it’s clear Roseman views the young Bulldog as the centerpiece of his very Georgia-themed defense, even if he doesn’t have a long-term extension to show for it just yet. As a result, after striking out on Garrett, the Eagles would affirm their commitment to Carter being a cornerstone player and pay him like one, handing the 25-year-old 3-tech the kind of contract that locks him up for the remainder of his 20s.
On paper, the Eagles really have no need to sign Carter to an extension right now. They just picked up his fifth-year option, 2026 will only be his fourth NFL season, and if something catastrophic happens on or off the field this fall, they could...
