Kelvin Kuo/AP
The Philadelphia Eagles are still reaping the rewards
from trading Sam Bradford to the Minnesota Vikings in
2016.
The trade allowed the Eagles to start Carson Wentz,
whose breakout season in 2017 helped the Eagles get off to a
12-1 start.
The Eagles also used the picks they acquired from the
Vikings to draft defensive end Derek Barnett, trade for running
back Jay Ajayi, and use cap space to sign Alshon
Jeffery.
When the Philadelphia Eagles face the New England Patriots in the
Super
Bowl on Sunday, they'll do so with a roster that was shaped
by a trade from which they're still reaping the benefits.
Before the 2016 season, the
Eagles traded Sam Bradford to the Minnesota Vikings for a
first-round pick and fourth-round pick. The Eagles needed
Bradford after Teddy Bridgewater injured his knee during training
camp.
On Monday, during Super Bowl Media Day, Eagles GM Howie Roseman
called the deal a "franchise-changing" decision for the moves it
allowed the Eagles to make.
First, trading Bradford made Carson Wentz, whom the Eagles had
made a giant trade for in the draft, to become the starter. Wentz
started off strong in his rookie season before tailing off. But
in his second season, Wentz played like an MVP candidate before
tearing his ACL in Week 14. While
Nick Foles has filled in admirably for Wentz, Wentz's play
helped the Eagles cruise to a 12-1 record and the top seed in the
NFC.
But the Bradford trade also allowed the Eagles to make other
moves that bolstered their team. The Eagles used the first-round
pick they acquired from the Vikings on defensive end Derek
Barnett. Barnett recorded 5 sacks this season, second on the team
and also forced a fumble and returned one for a touchdown.
Additionally, the Eagles used the fourth-round pick they acquired
from the Vikings to make a mid-season trade with the Miami
Dolphins for running back Jay Ajayi. Ajayi didn't produce monster
stats for the Eagles, but he became the lead back in a
three-running-back platoon that boasts different styles of
running and can be used in distinct situations.
As Andrew Krammer of The Star Tribune noted, trading Bradford
also opened up cap space, which the Eagles used on wide receiver
Alshon Jeffery.
"We had a chance to not only get the resources in terms of
draft picks back, but get the money back we were going to pay
Sam," Roseman said. "That allowed us to sign Alshon. We were able
to get a first and a fourth and $11 million, really when you look
at it, that allowed us to improve our team around Carson."
Jeffery's production was steady for the Eagles, as he
recorded 57 catches for 789 yards with nine touchdowns. He played
a major role in the NFC Championship game, with 85 yards and two
touchdowns, beating the Vikings, who, according to Krammer, tried
to sign Jeffery in the offseason.
The Eagles ended up extending Jeffery for four years, $52
million during the season.
While Wentz obviously won't play in the Super Bowl, the
Eagles have three impact players taking the field, all because of
the Bradford trade. With Bradford missing almost all of the 2017
season, it's safe to say the Eagles won that deal.
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