Bart Scott went on ESPN’s Get Up and dropped a bomb that has Eagles fans buzzing. The ESPN analyst declared he sees a blockbuster trade coming for Philadelphia, predicting Howie Roseman will package a deal to acquire Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby. Scott suggested the Eagles could send to Las Vegas Nolan Smith and potentially the 2028 first-round pick acquired from the Patriots in the A.J. Brown trade. Bold statement. But does it hold any water, and more importantly, should the Eagles actually pursue something like this?

Pump the brakes on the ‘source’ here

Let’s be real about what this actually is. Bart Scott literally said, “I believe Howie Roseman has a plan.” He said, “I know Howie Roseman and I see a big move coming.” There was no factual information here. No reporting. No sources.

This is NFL offseason talk from an analyst on a morning show. Even Louis Riddick, sitting right there on the panel, raised an eyebrow like he had no idea what Scott was talking about. Some of the other panelists did the same thing.

So no, I don’t think Bart Scott has any inside information on this. I don’t think he’s been on the phone with Howie or anyone in the Eagles’ front office. This is speculation, pure and simple. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth discussing, because the question itself is fascinating.

The case for Maxx Crosby

Let’s assume for a second that Scott is completely right and this could actually happen. Would you go out and try to get Maxx Crosby if you’re the Philadelphia Eagles?

Part of you has to say yes. We’re talking about one of the best edge rushers in the NFL. The guy is 28 years old, played through a torn meniscus last season, and still posted double-digit sacks. He is that tough. He is that talented.

With the consensus building around the league that the Los Angeles Rams are going to run away with the NFC after acquiring Myles Garrett, sometimes you have to be reactionary. When great rosters are being assembled, you have to build yours to go beat them.

We’ve looked at the Eagles’ edge rusher depth for months now and said they still need more. Crosby would obviously solve that problem overnight.

The case against it

On the flip side, the red flags are real. Crosby is coming off a serious knee injury, one significant enough that a trade fell through just a couple months ago because the other team, the Baltimore Ravens, reportedly saw something on the physical that it didn’t like. Whether that was a legitimate medical concern or cold feet, we don’t know the full details.

And then there’s the money. Crosby signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension with the Raiders. He has four years left on his deal, and he’s probably going to want even more in a couple of years. That’s a massive financial commitment for a team trying to extend its own young core.

Look at the trade framework the Rams just set with the Myles Garrett deal. Cleveland got Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second, and a 2029 third. The Browns should have gotten more. But that’s the bar now. Crosby isn’t Garrett, but he’s pretty close, which means the Eagles would probably have to offer Nolan Smith and two first-round picks to even get in the conversation. That’s a steep price when you’re already trying to pay your young players and extend this championship window.

What the decision should look like

I don’t think this ever realistically happens. Vic Fangio doesn’t need a top-level superstar edge rusher to make his defense elite. He’s shown he can elevate young players and complementary pieces into something special. And the financial gymnastics required to absorb Crosby’s contract while still extending guys like Cooper DeJean and others down the line would be extremely difficult, even for a magician like Howie.

But I’ll say this: if everything checked out medically, if the knee was 100% clean, and the Raiders were willing to do business for something reasonable, Maxx Crosby is the type of talent that almost pushes you over the edge. He’s that good. And with the Rams loading up, the Eagles can’t afford to stand pat and hope the young guys figure it out on their own.

The reality is Philadelphia still needs to address the edge position. Whether that’s through a trade like this, a smaller deal, or developing the guys already on the roster, we’ll see. But Bart Scott’s prediction? I’d put it at about 90-10 against. Fun to talk about, though.