Philly Front Office

Earlier this morning the Eagles sent CJ Gardner-Johnson and a 2026 6th round pick to the Houston Texans for Kenyon Green and a 2026 5th round pick. My first reaction was WHAT THE F***?!?!?!?!? I have since composed myself, knelt at my Howie Roseman alter, and have been convinced that everything is fine. Let’s see how this affects everyone.

CJ Gardner-Johnson

I love him and believe he was the attitude adjustment this team was missing after 2023’s lost season. No one will ever have anything bad to say about him ever. The Eagles had signed him to a 3/$27m contract coming into last season and it was a steal. Since the Super Bowl, it has been in the back of my mind that he probably wants a raise. I have no inside information on that, but it makes sense. Yesterday, the safety market went up considerably. Trevon Moehrig got 3/$51m and this morning Javon Holland got 3/$45m. The Holland deal especially had to perk up CJGJ’s agent’s ears. If CJGJ wanted more money, the Eagles were not prepared to give it to him. He will be missed forever.

Kenyon Green

Green has apparently been one of the worst linemen in the league since being drafted in 2022 (ironically, using the pick we gave up to get Jordan Davis). However, he is a former first round pick and will now enroll in Stoutland University. With big money invested (or will be invested) in the 4 other positions on the offensive line, Stoutland earns his keep by making this 4th position a money saver and draft pick maker. Green has to know that this is his chance to earn himself a career. He just won the lottery, now he has to redeem his ticket.

Mekhi Becton

His market went up yesterday with the big contracts going out to guards including 4/$77m to Aaron (I really want to call him Adam) Banks. It was always a faith-based possibility that he would return, but monetarily he would be dumb to come back. He has the potential to earn life changing money somewhere else. I think he knows that even if he flames out elsewhere, he can always come back.

Reed Blankenship

I thought Reed was going to get extended anyway, but now it is almost a sure thing. Essentially the Eagles are choosing Reed over CJGJ here. Expect him to get extended in the summer for less than the CJGJ contract.

Sydney Brown and the Draft

The first thought is that Sydney Brown is in line for a starting job. He is a former third round pick who has been hit hard by the injury bug in his career. He is an animal though and has been on the verge of being a fan favorite since the beginning. One hard hit and we are going to love him. I am worried a little bit that he might be a crazy person and prone to mistakes. We’ll see.

…or, we won’t. The internet is currently buzzing that the Eagles are going to go after Georgia safety Malachi Starks. I can’t see that happening though. Even though we just paid a linebacker and a running back, that does not mean Howie Roseman isn’t still Howie Roseman. He is not drafting a safety in the first round and that is where Starks will go. In the second round? Maybe.

Salary Cap

By trading CJGJ now, his cap hit will stay the same this season but disappear entirely from next year’s books. That’s $6m extra to spend next year. However, Green comes with around $2.5m in extra salary that has to be accounted for. So, technically we lose money on this deal in the short term but gain money in the long term. By my count we are around $14m under to start the season

Howie Roseman and the Eagles

Unlike yesterday’s moves, I think we are worse off losing CJGJ. He is a leader, a tone setter, and a playmaker. Here’s the thing though, Howie doesn’t make moves for no reason. Until we hear otherwise, I have to believe this was a contract situation in the making and Howie decided to get the value while he can. On the other side of the ball, we have another project lineman on the cheap who could easily blossom into a legit force with Jeff Stoutland. If he really goes nuts, then he adds to next year’s comp pick formula like Mekhi Becton will this season. If not, no harm no foul and we move on. This also adds a higher draft pick next season, moving from the 6th to a 5th. We have stocked up impressively on mid round picks already, which allows us to move up even further if necessary. Remember moving up with Washington to get Cooper DeJean last year? They don’t have the ammo to do that kind of trade. We do.

In the end, trust Howie. He knows what he is doing. We might be a little worse at safety at the moment, but he won’t let us go into the season with any holes.