Eagles didn’t miss out on Kyle Pitts or Ja’Marr Chase by trading down from No. 6

Howie Roseman can breathe a sigh of relief.

Much of the criticism about the Philadelphia Eagles’ decision to trade down from No. 6 to No. 12 in the 2021 NFL Draft stemmed from the idea of missing out on an elite pass-catching talent. Kyle Pitts and Ja’Marr Chase, specifically.

As we now know for sure, neither player would’ve been available to them. The Atlanta Falcons drafted Pitts at No. 4 and the Cincinnati Bengals reunited Chase with Joe Burrow at No. 5.

One would think Roseman had a good sense this outcome would be in play when he moved down. For his all faults, the Eagles’ general manager has good relationships and connections in the league. He has a pulse of what’s going on.

Roseman, to his credit, also understands value. And he got a good return by moving down six spots in the first round this year.

Of course, Roseman still has much to prove when it comes to turning those picks into good players for the Eagles. And it’s possible the Eagles missed out on a really, really good player that gets drafted between 6 and 11. So, let’s hold off on crowning him just yet.

But, at the very least, kudos to Howie for reading the top of the draft order correctly.