Report: Eagles had a choice of two draft picks when they traded back with Miami last offseason

Leading up to the 2021 draft, the Eagles originally held the No. 6 overall pick before trading back with the Miami Dolphins.

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The deal sent the No. 6 pick to Miami in exchange for the No. 12 pick, a 4th-round pick, and a 2022 first-round pick. Prior to the swap, Miami owned the No. 3 overall pick before trading it to the 49ers in exchange for the 12th selection and first-round picks in 2022 and 2023.

I know, a lot of moving parts.

At the end of the day, the Eagles were able to steal a first-rounder from Miami while still getting a top receiver in DeVonta Smith. The Dolphins used the #6 overall pick on fellow Alabama wideout Jaylen Waddle.

I can’t believe this guy wasn’t targeted until there was 1:15 left in the 2nd quarter. pic.twitter.com/0BwoUVWeqh

— Victor Williams (@ThePhillyPod) January 18, 2022

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Which pick the Eagles would own of Miami’s wasn’t as straightforward, however. During initial trade discussions, Philadelphia reportedly had a choice of the two first-round selections that Miami held at the time — their own pick or the one acquired from San Francisco:

“Miami had its 2022 first-rounder, and one from San Francisco in the trade the Niners made to draft Trey Lance third overall. Last spring, I talked to both GM Chris Grier and then-coach Brian Flores, and I was left with the distinct impression that Eagles GM Howie Roseman was insistent that the Eagles have their choice of the two Miami 2022 first-rounders.”

“Miami was coming off a 10-6 season in 2020; injury-riddled San Francisco went 6-10. Roseman obviously had to decide which team would be picking higher in the ’22 draft. It was a guess, but he wanted the Dolphins pick. He figured San Francisco would have a better season in 2021 and thus pick lower.” — via Peter King’s Football Morning In America

Eagles traded their sixth to the Dolphins for No. 12 and their 2022 first-round pick. Teams also swapped mid-round picks — Eagles' pick 156 for No. 123.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 26, 2021

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Miami finished the year with a 9-8 record, while San Francisco went 10-7 en route to the NFC Championship Game. GM Howie Roseman ended up making the right choice as that 49ers’ selection is now set at 29th overall while Philadelphia owns Miami’s outright at #15 overall.

Roseman gets a lot of scrutiny from Eagles fans for his draft woes, but it appears that he made the right call here. With three picks in the top-20 of next month’s draft, Philadelphia has plenty of flexibility to fill the necessary holes on the roster.

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