Philadelphia sent defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga and a 2014…
Philadelphia sent defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga and a 2014 sixth-round pick to New England for a 2014 fifth-rounder at the trade deadline. Sopoaga played only six regular-season games for the Patriots and was released the following March. The Eagles then used acquired pick No. 169 to trade for Darren Sproles, who became a Pro Bowl returner and major offensive weapon in Philadelphia. That downstream conversion creates a decisive Eagles win.
New England Patriots Received
- player Isaac Sopoaga
- pick 2014 6th round pick (198th overall, Zach Moore)
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- pick 2014 5th round pick (169th overall subsequently traded, Ronald Powell )
Trade Analysis
Why the Deal Happened
New England’s defensive front had been hit by major injuries in 2013, including the loss of Vince Wilfork, so the Patriots sought an experienced nose tackle at the deadline. Philadelphia sent Isaac Sopoaga and its 2014 sixth-round pick to New England. The Eagles received New England’s 2014 fifth-round selection, No. 169.
What Each Side Received
Sopoaga appeared in six regular-season games for New England and made two starts. The Patriots released him the following March. Their additional sixth-round pick became defensive lineman Zach Moore at No. 198. Philadelphia held a fifth-round asset that soon became much more important than its draft slot suggested.
How the Return Aged
On March 13, 2014, Philadelphia traded the exact No. 169 selection to New Orleans for Darren Sproles. Sproles became an immediate difference-maker for the Eagles as a runner, receiver and returner, earning Pro Bowl recognition and remaining a valuable part of the offense and special teams for years. The Saints ultimately used No. 169 on Ronald Powell.
Why the Margin Matters
The Eagles deserve credit for the value they actually created from the acquired pick. Sproles was not part of the original Patriots transaction, but Philadelphia directly converted that returned asset into him before the draft. New England, by contrast, got only a brief Sopoaga stint and modest value from Moore.
Final Verdict
Philadelphia Eagles Win. Philadelphia earns an A- because one deadline fifth-rounder became a multi-year impact player in Sproles. New England receives a D: the immediate defensive patch was short-lived, and the added sixth-rounder did not come close to matching the value the Eagles created from the fifth.