At 2-2, everything is technically still in front of the Philadelphia Eagles this season. But dive a little deeper into what might be wrong with them, and it sure seems like this version of the team might be irreparably broken. Which is why head coach Nick Sirriani seems destined to lose his job unless the Eagles turn it around.
Dealing away a two-time Pro Bowl Center like Cam Jurgens to the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday won't help Sirianni. It may, however, help Lamar Jackson finally win a Super Bowl championship. Hmm. Let's unpack a fascinating early October deal between two of the NFL's premier modern franchises and hand out some good old-fashioned trade grades.
Eagles and Ravens trade details
- Eagles get: 2027 fifth-round draft pick, 2028 second-round draft pick
- Ravens get: C Cam Jurgens, 2027 seventh-round draft pick
Eagles trade grade
Well, huh. The Eagles dealing away Jurgens is interesting because he is still one
of the best starting centers in pro football. If the Eagles were trying to win at all costs, it wouldn't make sense to deal him away in any context. In the wake of future Hall of Famer Lane Johnson's retirement and Philadelphia's general struggles so far this season, it sure seems like a fire sale of sorts could be afoot here.
Since it seems like the Eagles are admitting defeat and acknowledging that they're probably not contenders in 2026, I'm inclined to give them a more positive grade. Getting a second-round pick to utilize for Howie Roseman is a great move in almost any situation. I know Eagles fans will be upset that 2026 could be over before it even started, but this sort of ego-less, forward-thinking is why the franchise has been the NFC's best team this century. The Eagles know when to take a step back, rather than double down on a lost cause.
Shrewd trades like this make it clear the Eagles won't be down for too long.
Grade: B+
Ravens trade grade
If there's one glaring weakness that the Ravens had on their otherwise loaded offense, it was a gaping hole at center. That's a problem when you're operating with a perennial MVP candidate quarterback like Lamar Jackson, who likes to use his legs a lot. Acquiring Jurgens for what is effectively a solid Day 2 draft pick (any assets acquired on late Day 3 and beyond generally do not matter) is a fantastic move by general manager Eric DeCosta.
The Ravens are smack dab in the middle of a Super Bowl window. Now is the time to use such draft assets for good players in their physical primes to try and finally get over the Lombardi Trophy hump with their superstar quarterback. Plus, Jurgens is under contract through the 2029 season at a good price, making him the long-term and affordable answer at center. I love this move for Baltimore. It has a decent chance of ultimately pushing the Ravens over the top in the AFC.
Grade: A+
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Cam Jurgens trade grades: Who won the Eagles and Ravens deal?
