NFL Draft 2017: ESPN projects what an Eagles trade down could look like

As if NFL mock draft season wasn’t ridiculous enough, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell put together a first round mock consisting entirely of trades at each pick. Here’s what he suggested for the Philadelphia Eagles at pick No. 14.

Texans get: 1-14

Eagles get: 1-25, 2-57

The Colts and Ravens, who pick next after the Eagles, are likely to consider trading down and acquiring additional picks. As a result, teams that want to try to grab one of the quarterbacks in the middle of the first round might have to move up to Philadelphia's pick to beat the competition.

Enter the Texans, who are left with Tom Savage and Brandon Weeden under center after dumping Brock Osweiler's contract on the Browns earlier this offseason. Houston sent its 2018 second-round pick to the Browns for the salary relief, but it still has its 2017 second-rounder to move as part of a deal. The Eagles are desperately in need of cornerback help and could try to pry away 2015 first-rounder Kevin Johnson, who missed most of last year with an injury, but the Texans will be loath to trade away the future starter after losing A.J. Bouye to the Jags in March.

So Barnwell has the Eagles trading down. First, let’s take a look at how the trade stacks up on the draft pick value chart.

Texans get: No. 14 = 1,100 points
Eagles get: No. 25 (720) + No. 57 (330) = 1,050 points

The chart isn’t a perfect guide but it appears the Eagles are getting short-changed here. The difference of 50 points is worth the No. 122 pick, which is a late fourth-round selection.

I’m really not a fan of this proposed trade by ESPN. I’m honestly against trading down in general. If the Eagles back a pick or two or three, it’s not the end of the world to me, but moving down 11 spots seems like way too much.

Just because the Eagles haven’t had success trading down in the past doesn’t mean they can’t be successful at it in the future, but their track record certainly isn’t encouraging. Their trade down picks since 1999 include: Kevin Kolb, Trevor Laws, and Marcus Smith.

Another reason why I hate the idea of trading down is because it lacks conviction. Admittedly, this might be a very rudimentary way of thinking about it, but I want the Eagles to draft a guy they love at No. 14. Or even trade up a few picks if they have to. I want them to feel strongly about “their” guy. Not just trade back because they ran out of options they really loved, as was the case in 2014.

The only way I’d consider this trade is if Kevin Johnson was included in the Texans’ offer, as Barnwell suggested. Going from No. 14 to No. 25 would be easier to stomach knowing the Eagles would be getting a starting cornerback in the process. But that’s not the deal Barnwell ultimately put on the table for the Eagles.

I really hope the Eagles don’t make a major move down in the first round next week. Again, I’m flexible when it comes to moving up or down 1-3 picks, but I think there’s going to be a good player for them if they just sit tight at No. 14. Take the best player available and don’t get too cute with it. That’s not too much to ask, right?

How do you feel about ESPN’s proposed trade? Vote in the poll below.