Philadelphia Eagles Shouldn't Trade Up In 2016 NFL Draft

The Philadelphia Eagles have been pretty aggressive in their move-making this offseason, and they’ve done a pretty solid job of it so far. Perhaps their best move was getting into the top 10 of the 2016 NFL Draft by snagging the eighth overall pick. They’ve got a plan, and by all accounts they’re right where they want to be.

But this rumor that they’re planning a big move up to No. 2 overall for Carson Wentz is ridiculous, and most likely not even a thought that’s crossed their minds.

The Eagles technically have the ammunition to pull off a move if they wanted, but it’d be dumb for them to do that. Without that second-round pick, the gap between No. 8 and their first third-round pick is pretty significant. No way do they widen that gap any further, or make their picks any less frequent behind it. A team looking to build through the draft doesn’t burn extra picks like that, especially not when you’re talking about a package from No. 8 to No. 2.

Besides, if Wentz is really that good, it would make more sense for the Cleveland Browns to draft him there anyway. Robert Griffin III doesn’t change their quarterback strategy at all; his contract is pretty much a backup quarterback contract that’s so short a draft quarterback still makes a ton of sense.

There’s always a chance Wentz slips to the Eagles’ pick, too. But if he doesn’t, which he probably won’t, Jared Goff is still a great prospect in his own right. Goff would be a fine selection at No. 8, and certainly is good enough so you don’t have to sell the house to move up for Wentz. Goff is less of a project player than Wentz, and really would be the safer pick of the two if the Eagles wanted a quarterback that early. Either one would make sense, so I don’t see the need for the Eagles to make that drastic of a move.

This isn’t to say the Eagles won’t be aggressive if a player they like slips some, but all that way up to No. 2? It’s just a crazy scenario all the way around, and this “anonymous NFC executive” is surely not a member of the Eagles. At least I hope not, anyway.