Philadelphia Eagles' big draft trade puts Jalen Hurts on the clock - Philadelphia Eagles Blog- ESPN

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles' actions this offseason continue to suggest that while they like quarterback Jalen Hurts, they're not married to him as the long-term starter.

Further evidence was submitted Monday when they agreed to trade two of their first-rounders in April's draft (Nos. 16 and 19) along with the 194th overall pick to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for picks Nos. 18, 101 and 237 this year; a 2023 first-round pick; and a 2024 second-round pick.

They now have two first-rounders in the 2023 draft, which is expected to boast a much better QB class than the '22 group. It's not a stretch to say that with the move, Hurts is officially on the clock.

The trade is not just about the quarterback position. It's in part about spreading their assets out. Drafting three players in the first round, and paying them concurrently, isn't ideal from a bookkeeping perspective. The resources in this scenario are more staggered, and there are more of them, as they picked up first- or second-day picks in each of the next three drafts. According to ESPN's draft pick value calculator, the Eagles got the much better side of the deal if 2022 and 2023 picks were treated with equal value.

Bottom line, it makes sense from a macro perspective, which is exactly how the Eagles' brass is viewing things this offseason.

«I look at team building. And that’s what we’re doing right now, we’re building,” general manager Howie Roseman told reporters last week at the NFL owners meetings. “We’re not in the go-for-it situation, all-in situation. We have too many resources. We have too many good young players to be like that.”

Still, it's hard not to view this as the Eagles hedging their bets at quarterback. That's not to say they don't like Hurts,