Fans of the Philadelphia Eagles seem to be torn on what they should do at the QB position. Some are upset that the team was unable to convince QB Russell Wilson to waive his no-trade clause. Some are looking at the possibility of having DeShaun Watson come to Philadelphia after no criminal charges were filed in his 22 sexual assault allegations. Then, there are those who want the Eagles to stick with current QB1, Jalen Hurts.
In reality, the Eagles won’t have much of a choice. The top QB’s potentially on the trade block aren’t coming to Philadelphia and there are multiple reasons why.
Past Precedent
We can argue about Carson Wentz every single day. Both sides have definite merit. But in the end, QB’s around the league saw a shocking and important decision.
The Eagles had missed time and time again on WR’s and refused to put quality talent around Wentz. The minute when things got tough, they went looking for his replacement. Playing QB is not a perfect thing. There are going to be off-games and even years where it doesn’t fully work out. The fact that the Eagles have a history of jumping ship the minute when something bad happens is a warning to all QB’s.
It goes even beyond Wentz too. The Eagles traded Donovan McNabb because he couldn’t beat the Cowboys for one year. They let go of Foles and traded him for Sam Bradford the minute he ended up getting hurt. And now they are looking for potential replacements for a 23-year-old QB who JUST got their rebuilding team to the playoffs.
It’s a precedent reflects poorly on the whole franchise. Other teams around the league know the Eagles are always looking for a QB, and it’s clear other players have noticed as well.
The talent around them
Let me make it clear. The Eagles have two budding stars in this league at both WR and TE. Dallas Goedert and Devonta Smith are excellent pieces to build off of.
That doesn’t mean they are ready to win shootouts against the NFL’s best. The Eagles have missed on many wide receivers, and until they go after, and get, a prominent #2 receiving option, they will continue to need another skill position player.
Could a player like Watson intend to waive his no-trade clause the minute the Eagles land a top weapon? That’s certainly a possibility. The OL is excellent, the running game is clearly good enough to win. But until that other receiving option is opened up, it’s going to be the same old for Philly.
The Media
Radio stations and television stations exist now to give the reactionary take. If they can stir up the crowd to being upset, then they’ll do that by saying anything. If a player like Watson or Wilson came to Philly, had a bad game and lost, how quickly would the media turn on him? Almost instantly.
Or better yet, what if one of them played well, and had a poor record. They would say he’s not doing enough and want him out of town. It’s happened so many times over the last few years that, like the FO, the precedent is set.
The Eagles have a lot of work to do to improve their image within the QB position. Patience has never been something that has been ignored by this front office over the last three decades and it’s a reason some of the best QB’s available were ignoring the city. Until that image is repaired, the Eagles will continue to try and find a QB, and be denied at every turn.
Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
