Why Did the Eagles Swap Their 10th Pick for the Bears' 9th? Here's Why
The art of the NFL Draft dance is one that Chicago Bears' General Manager, Ryan Poles, executed flawlessly in the 2023 first round. The Bears had their eyes on Tennessee's right tackle, Darnell Wright, and did not show much interest in Georgia's defensive tackle, Jalen Carter. With both Wright and Carter up for grabs when the Bears had their turn at the 9th pick, a quick exchange of positions with the Philadelphia Eagles gave the Bears an extra selection at no extra cost. But what was in it for the Eagles?
Eagles' GM, Howie Roseman, recently shed light on the motive behind the swap while chatting with Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk. "Why did you trade up from 10 to 9 to get Jalen Carter?" Florio asked. Roseman was candid in his response, citing previous errors in judgement during draft processes and a tendency to play it safe rather than risk missing out on the top candidate.
He expressed, "sometimes, it's about getting cute with picks and not really going and getting the outcome that you desire." Roseman was confident in Carter's abilities and felt the Eagles provided the perfect environment for Carter to thrive in.
To ensure they got their man, the Eagles parted with a fourth-round pick. Roseman didn't mind taking this risk, despite the chance that he might be giving up something for nothing. However, he believed that securing Carter was the right move for the team.
Florio asked whether Poles might have enticed the Eagles into the trade by hinting at interest from other teams. Roseman admitted the possibility, saying you're left to your own devices in such situations. But he stood firm on his decision, saying he was prepared for the outcome either way.
Poles affirmed in a post-draft press conference that the Bears were unwilling to trade back further, emphasizing that Wright was their priority. Despite potentially trading up for no apparent reason, Roseman, as a Super Bowl-winning GM, was in a position to take such a risk. In his view, a fourth-round pick was worth ensuring that they got their top choice.
While Wright and Carter's careers will forever be intertwined due to the trade, it isn't fair to either player to compare their future performances directly. Each team made the choice they thought best for their franchise at the time. The Bears secured their top pick, and so did the Eagles. In essence, it's a victory for both sides.
| POLL | ||
30 MAI | 142 ANSWERS Why Did the Eagles Swap Their 10th Pick for the Bears' 9th? Here's Why Did Ryan Poles make a mistake by not drafting Jalen Carter? | ||
| Yes | 41 | 28.9 % |
| No | 101 | 71.1 % |
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