The Philadelphia Eagles wanted Myles Garrett. They were in the mix, aggressive, and ready to deal. But the Los Angeles Rams swooped in, sent Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick to Cleveland, and walked away with one of the most dominant defensive players in NFL history. And now the NFC just got a whole lot harder for everybody, including Philly.

Reports indicated three teams were going after Garrett aggressively: the Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Rams. Los Angeles won the bidding war, and the ripple effects are massive for the conference landscape heading into the 2026 season.

Howie Roseman and the one that got away

It’s actually shocking that general manager Howie Roseman could not get the trade done. This is a GM who usually finds a way. He’s the guy who runs laps around other front offices, pulls tricks out of the book, and outmaneuvers everybody at the negotiating table. But this time, the Rams and their general manager Les Snead beat him to the punch.

And here’s the thing. If you look at the full picture, the Eagles probably could have put together a competitive package. They just traded wide receiver A.J. Brown and got back a first-round pick and a fifth-round pick. Throw that draft capital in with a player like Nolan Smith and maybe another pick or two, and you’re in the ballpark. Howie Roseman also has a good relationship with Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry, whose twin brother works with the Eagles organization. The connection was there. The pieces were there.

If I’m the Eagles, I honestly would have flipped A.J. Brown over to Cleveland along with Nolan Smith and a couple of draft picks, maybe two firsts, and gone all-in on Garrett. But it seems like Philadelphia was not willing to part with the one guy the Browns reportedly wanted most: Jalen Carter.

This has to be Jalen Carter’s breakout season

So now the pressure falls squarely on Jalen Carter’s shoulders. The Eagles essentially chose him over the chance to acquire a generational pass-rusher. Cleveland wanted Carter the same way they wanted Verse from the Rams. Los Angeles was willing to give up one of the best young defensive players in the game to make the deal happen. Philadelphia was not.

Carter has had a bit of an up-and-down career so far. He’s still a great young player with elite physical tools, but he needs to become that all-world defensive force, the juggernaut of this defense for the next five years. Names like Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, and various draft picks were floated in negotiations, but the Browns kept circling back to Carter. The Eagles said no. Now they need Carter to prove that decision right.

The Rams just became the team to beat

Look at what Los Angeles has assembled. They have added Garrett and Trent McDuffie this offseason, brought Matthew Stafford back, and are ready to run this thing again. Think about how close the Rams were this past season. Now they’ve acquired one of the best defensive players to maybe ever put on the pads. That is terrifying for every team in the NFC.

The Eagles will play the Rams early in the season, and that matchup just became one of the most important games on the schedule. Los Angeles is going to be a problem.

But the philosophical difference between these two organizations is worth noting. The Rams are saying forget the future draft picks, forget long-term roster flexibility. They gave up a perennial young Pro Bowler in Verse and could hurt their ability to extend guys like Puka Nacua down the road. Philadelphia is taking the opposite approach, prioritizing future control, trying to keep their young core together: the Quinyon Mitchells, the Cooper DeJeans, the Nolan Smiths, the Jalen Carters.

Where this leaves the Eagles

If Howie Roseman really wanted Garrett, he probably had a better chance of acquiring him last season when the Eagles reportedly had interest but ultimately passed. Now that window has closed. The Rams pounced, and Philadelphia has to live with the decision to protect its young core instead of swinging for a franchise-altering defender.

That’s not necessarily the wrong call. Building through the trenches, maintaining cap flexibility, and keeping your homegrown talent under long-term control is the Howie Roseman blueprint. But when a player like Myles Garrett becomes available and you’re trying to win a Super Bowl right now, passing on that opportunity stings. The Eagles are betting on Jalen Carter becoming that caliber of player. Now we get to find out if that bet pays off.