If there was one clear takeaway from the beatdown the Eagles took on Sunday in Tampa Bay it is that, no matter how much fans might agree or disagree, this team is going to try to trade for a quarterback this offseason.
Fans can try to avoid that reality all they want, clinging to the fact that Jalen Hurts had a good year. Pointing to the fact he is young. Highlighting he is on a rookie deal.
The harsh reality, however, is that there is simply no other takeaway to have from Sunday.
One team picked the other apart with the passing game.
The other one was unable to throw the ball in any meaningful way.
Which team do you think Jeffrey Lurie and Howie Roseman want to be — and how long do you think they are really willing to wait to get there?
Of course, as bad as he was, there is no denying Hurts doesn’t deserve all the blame. The receivers aren’t that good outside of DeVonta Smith. That falls on Howie Roseman. The offense looked lost for long stretches. That falls on Nick Sirianni. The defense struggled early. That falls on Jonathan Gannon.
But Roseman, Sirianni and Gannon aren’t going anywhere. Those three will be back next season.
Fans and media can debate and discuss it until they are blue in the face, but all that really matters is what Lurie and Roseman think — and chances are they are going to look at what meaningful changes they can make to the team and decide it is the quarterback that could be upgraded.
Does anyone truly believe that Lurie and Roseman, the duo that is obsessed with quarterbacks, watched that game on Sunday and didn’t start thinking about how to land themselves an elite quarterback to fix their passing game?
That does’t mean they will just move on from Hurts for anyone. Baker Mayfield, Daniel Jones or Tyrod Taylor won’t be starting in Week 1 for the Eagles next season. The favorite to start for the Eagles next year is still Hurts, who despite a poor game on Sunday, did take real, meaningful steps forward this season.
Watching the Eagles' complete inability to throw the ball when it mattered on Sunday, however, should open everyone’s eyes to what is going to happen.
Armed with three first-round picks and a trio of veteran quarterbacks to choose from, there is no chance Lurie and Roseman won’t be trying to make a move. If there is one thing everyone should have learned about the owner and general manager pairing is that they always, always prioritize the quarterbacks. Sometimes even to a fault. Even if it creates controversy when there doesn’t have to be.
The Eagles might never have three first-round picks again. The chances they have three pick inside the top 20 are even slimmer. Teams that deal for elite quarterbacks often pay the price of spending years without selecting in the first round. The Eagles can, at worst, skip picking in the first-round once to land their guy. That is a chance they won’t get again.
It is also a chance that will expire. The Eagles can’t hold onto these picks for years, waiting to find their guy. Trade them now or use them. Those are the options. The decision has to be made, for good, in just a few months.
The Eagles decision is clear. They are going to use those picks to explore acquiring Russell Wilson. They are going to continue to explore trading for Deshaun Watson. If he is willing to listen, they will see if Aaron Rodgers has interest in coming to play behind the Eagles’ offensive line. Maybe he can bring Devante Adams with him.
It is very possible none of those players decide to reciprocate the interest. All can refuse to come to Philadelphia. The Eagles can own every pick in the first round. That won’t matter if Wilson, Rodgers or Watson don’t want to come.
Those three picks, however, puts them in the conversation. Not many (if any) other teams can offer up the trade package the Eagles can. Especially if Hurts is involved. This is a pivotal moment in the franchise and what they do with those picks could end up deciding how soon it is before the Eagles are the team favored by close to double-digits in a playoff game like Tampa Bay, instead of going into it as heavy underdogs like they did.
Stop fooling yourself — these type of picks and this type of moment almost certainly won’t be used on linebackers and safeties willingly. Lurie and Roseman have too long of a track record to think they will use the biggest treasure chest of assets they have arguably ever had on positions they have traditionally never valued.
No, their three first-round picks will first be used to try to find their quarterback. A quarterback they view as elite. Not one they themselves admitted was drafted to be a backup.
You can disagree all you want. It might not be the smart move. It probably isn’t. Backing Hurts for one more year and seeing if he can improve once again very well might be the right path. It is what I would do. It might be what you would do.
It doesn’t matter. The media and the fans don’t get votes.
Only Lurie and Roseman get to make this decision — and Sunday should have opened plenty of eyes on what direction the duo is going to try go.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com