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The Philadelphia Eagles have built championship teams through the draft, but some of the most important moments in franchise history arrived through trades. From acquiring Hall of Fame quarterbacks to landing All-Pro playmakers and flipping veterans for future assets, the organization has made several deals that have altered its trajectory.
With A.J. Brown now in New England, it's worth revisiting the most significant trades the Eagles have made over nearly a century of football.
The Eagles sent Buck Lansford, Jimmy Harris, and a first-round pick to the Rams for quarterback Norm Van Brocklin. The deal paid immediate dividends. Van Brocklin spent only three seasons in Philadelphia but guided the Eagles to a 10-2 record and a 17-13 victory over Vince Lombardi's Packers in the 1960 NFL Championship Game. Neither Lansford nor Harris made a significant impact in Los Angeles, making this one of the most lopsided trades in franchise history.
Philadelphia acquired the rights to Ron Jaworski from the Rams in exchange for the rights to tight end Charles Young. Jaworski became the Eagles' starter for the next decade, leading the franchise to four playoff appearances and its first Super Bowl berth in 1980. Few trades delivered more stability at the game's most important position.
The Eagles acquired Peters from Buffalo for a package of draft picks. He responded by becoming one of the greatest offensive linemen in team history, earning seven Pro Bowl selections in Philadelphia and anchoring the offensive line for more than a decade.
The Eagles surrendered three premium draft picks to acquire linebacker Bill Bergey from Cincinnati. Bergey immediately became the centerpiece of Philadelphia's defense, earning first-team All-Pro honors in his first season and making five straight Pro Bowls. He remains one of the most respected defenders in franchise history and a member of the Eagles Hall of Fame.
During the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Eagles sent the 18th overall pick and a third-round selection to Tennessee for Brown. The move immediately transformed Philadelphia's offense. Brown became a three-time Pro Bowler with the Eagles, helping the team reach two Super Bowls while developing one of the league's most productive quarterback-receiver partnerships with Jalen Hurts.
The Eagles surrendered a fifth-round pick to acquire Owens following a complicated grievance involving the 49ers, Ravens, and Eagles. Although his tenure lasted just two seasons, Owens produced 133 receptions, 2,085 yards, and 20 touchdowns while helping Philadelphia reach Super Bowl XXXIX.
When Teddy Bridgewater suffered a devastating knee injury, the Vikings called Philadelphia. The Eagles capitalized, shipping Bradford to Minnesota for a first-round pick and a fourth-round pick. Those assets eventually helped Philadelphia acquire Derek Barnett and Josh Sweat, both key contributors during the Super Bowl LII championship run.
No trade required more draft capital than the Eagles' aggressive climb from No. 13 overall to No. 2 overall in 2016. The move landed Carson Wentz, who helped deliver the top seed during the 2017 season before injury and became one of the most productive quarterbacks in team history. While Wentz's tenure ended abruptly, the trade remains one of the defining moments of the Howie Roseman era.
Philadelphia acquired Slay from Detroit for third- and fifth-round selections. The veteran cornerback immediately stabilized the secondary and developed into one of the leaders of a defense that helped the Eagles return to championship contention.
The Eagles struck a deal with division rival Dallas to move from No. 12 to No. 10 and select Smith. The former Heisman Trophy winner has become one of the NFL's premier route runners and remains a foundational piece of the offense.
The trade ends one of the most productive receiver eras in franchise history. Brown leaves Philadelphia with:
If the 2028 first-round pick becomes an impact offensive player, an All-Pro pass rusher, or another cornerstone player, this deal could eventually rank inside the top five. Right now, it's too early because the return remains theoretical.
After a difficult final season, the Eagles moved Wentz to the Colts for a third-round pick and a conditional first-round selection. The move helped accelerate Philadelphia's roster rebuild and provided valuable draft capital during a critical transition period.
One of Roseman's most efficient deals brought Gardner-Johnson to Philadelphia for late-round draft compensation. He led the NFL in interceptions despite missing five games and became a major contributor during the Eagles' Super Bowl run.
The Eagles surrendered only a fourth-round pick to acquire Ajayi from Miami. He became a critical piece of the rushing attack during the franchise's first Super Bowl-winning season.
Moving Ertz to Arizona allowed Dallas Goedert to assume the full-time starting role. The draft assets acquired in the deal eventually became part of the package Philadelphia used to move up and select defensive tackle Jordan Davis.
The Eagles made the controversial decision to trade McNabb within the division. While Washington received only one season from the six-time Pro Bowler, Philadelphia used the draft compensation to continue reshaping the roster during a transitional period.
The Eagles sent McCoy to Buffalo for linebacker Kiko Alonso in one of the most controversial trades in franchise history. Alonso never developed into the impact player Philadelphia envisioned, while McCoy remained productive for several seasons. The deal is remembered more for the reaction it generated than the results it produced.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: The 15 most impactful trades ever made by the Eagles
Continue reading...
With A.J. Brown now in New England, it's worth revisiting the most significant trades the Eagles have made over nearly a century of football.
1. Norm Van Brocklin arrives in Philadelphia (1958)
The Eagles sent Buck Lansford, Jimmy Harris, and a first-round pick to the Rams for quarterback Norm Van Brocklin. The deal paid immediate dividends. Van Brocklin spent only three seasons in Philadelphia but guided the Eagles to a 10-2 record and a 17-13 victory over Vince Lombardi's Packers in the 1960 NFL Championship Game. Neither Lansford nor Harris made a significant impact in Los Angeles, making this one of the most lopsided trades in franchise history.
2. The Ron Jaworski trade (1977)
Philadelphia acquired the rights to Ron Jaworski from the Rams in exchange for the rights to tight end Charles Young. Jaworski became the Eagles' starter for the next decade, leading the franchise to four playoff appearances and its first Super Bowl berth in 1980. Few trades delivered more stability at the game's most important position.
3. Jason Peters becomes a franchise cornerstone (2009)
The Eagles acquired Peters from Buffalo for a package of draft picks. He responded by becoming one of the greatest offensive linemen in team history, earning seven Pro Bowl selections in Philadelphia and anchoring the offensive line for more than a decade.
4. Bill Bergey transforms the defense (1974)
The Eagles surrendered three premium draft picks to acquire linebacker Bill Bergey from Cincinnati. Bergey immediately became the centerpiece of Philadelphia's defense, earning first-team All-Pro honors in his first season and making five straight Pro Bowls. He remains one of the most respected defenders in franchise history and a member of the Eagles Hall of Fame.
6. Acquiring A.J. Brown (2022)
During the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Eagles sent the 18th overall pick and a third-round selection to Tennessee for Brown. The move immediately transformed Philadelphia's offense. Brown became a three-time Pro Bowler with the Eagles, helping the team reach two Super Bowls while developing one of the league's most productive quarterback-receiver partnerships with Jalen Hurts.
7. Terrell Owens arrives from Baltimore (2004)
The Eagles surrendered a fifth-round pick to acquire Owens following a complicated grievance involving the 49ers, Ravens, and Eagles. Although his tenure lasted just two seasons, Owens produced 133 receptions, 2,085 yards, and 20 touchdowns while helping Philadelphia reach Super Bowl XXXIX.
8. Sam Bradford to Minnesota (2016)
When Teddy Bridgewater suffered a devastating knee injury, the Vikings called Philadelphia. The Eagles capitalized, shipping Bradford to Minnesota for a first-round pick and a fourth-round pick. Those assets eventually helped Philadelphia acquire Derek Barnett and Josh Sweat, both key contributors during the Super Bowl LII championship run.
9. Trading up for Carson Wentz (2016)
No trade required more draft capital than the Eagles' aggressive climb from No. 13 overall to No. 2 overall in 2016. The move landed Carson Wentz, who helped deliver the top seed during the 2017 season before injury and became one of the most productive quarterbacks in team history. While Wentz's tenure ended abruptly, the trade remains one of the defining moments of the Howie Roseman era.
10. Trading for Darius Slay (2020)
Philadelphia acquired Slay from Detroit for third- and fifth-round selections. The veteran cornerback immediately stabilized the secondary and developed into one of the leaders of a defense that helped the Eagles return to championship contention.
11. Trading up for DeVonta Smith (2021)
The Eagles struck a deal with division rival Dallas to move from No. 12 to No. 10 and select Smith. The former Heisman Trophy winner has become one of the NFL's premier route runners and remains a foundational piece of the offense.
12. Trading A.J. Brown to the Patriots (2026)
The trade ends one of the most productive receiver eras in franchise history. Brown leaves Philadelphia with:
- 339 receptions
- 5,034 yards
- 32 touchdowns
- Two Super Bowl appearances
- Multiple Pro Bowls
- Multiple All-Pro honors
If the 2028 first-round pick becomes an impact offensive player, an All-Pro pass rusher, or another cornerstone player, this deal could eventually rank inside the top five. Right now, it's too early because the return remains theoretical.
13. Carson Wentz trade to Indianapolis (2021)
After a difficult final season, the Eagles moved Wentz to the Colts for a third-round pick and a conditional first-round selection. The move helped accelerate Philadelphia's roster rebuild and provided valuable draft capital during a critical transition period.
14. C.J. Gardner-Johnson arrives from New Orleans (2022)
One of Roseman's most efficient deals brought Gardner-Johnson to Philadelphia for late-round draft compensation. He led the NFL in interceptions despite missing five games and became a major contributor during the Eagles' Super Bowl run.
15. Jay Ajayi helps fuel a championship (2017)
The Eagles surrendered only a fourth-round pick to acquire Ajayi from Miami. He became a critical piece of the rushing attack during the franchise's first Super Bowl-winning season.
16. Zach Ertz trade opens the door for Jordan Davis (2021)
Moving Ertz to Arizona allowed Dallas Goedert to assume the full-time starting role. The draft assets acquired in the deal eventually became part of the package Philadelphia used to move up and select defensive tackle Jordan Davis.
17. Donovan McNabb to Washington (2010)
The Eagles made the controversial decision to trade McNabb within the division. While Washington received only one season from the six-time Pro Bowler, Philadelphia used the draft compensation to continue reshaping the roster during a transitional period.
Honorable Mention: The LeSean McCoy trade
The Eagles sent McCoy to Buffalo for linebacker Kiko Alonso in one of the most controversial trades in franchise history. Alonso never developed into the impact player Philadelphia envisioned, while McCoy remained productive for several seasons. The deal is remembered more for the reaction it generated than the results it produced.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: The 15 most impactful trades ever made by the Eagles
Continue reading...
