Philadelphia moved Eric Rowe after one season and recovered a…
Philadelphia moved Eric Rowe after one season and recovered a 2018 fourth-round pick for a cornerback who had fallen down the new coaching staff's depth chart. The return was respectable for a player whose Eagles role had evaporated. Rowe's immediate usefulness in New England, though, including seven regular-season starts during a Super Bowl championship season, makes the Patriots the better side in hindsight.
New England Patriots Received
- player Eric Rowe
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- pick 2018 4th round pick (131st overall subsequently traded, Kalen Ballage )
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Philadelphia traded cornerback Eric Rowe to New England on September 6, 2016, for a 2018 fourth-round pick. The selection could have escalated under reported conditions, but it ultimately remained a fourth and became pick No. 131. Rowe had been a 2015 second-round choice, yet he was outside the Eagles' top cornerback group under a new defensive staff.
Why New England Won
The Patriots obtained immediate defensive help at a modest future cost. Rowe appeared in nine regular-season games in 2016, started seven, intercepted a pass and played substantial snaps for a team that won Super Bowl LI. Across three New England seasons he played 21 regular-season games with 12 starts. He was not a franchise cornerstone, but he filled a real role during a championship window, exactly the kind of targeted veteran value New England routinely sought.
How Philadelphia's Return Aged
The Eagles did well to recover a fourth-round asset for a player they no longer viewed as a core piece. That keeps the grade respectable. Yet the return was deferred for two drafts, and Philadelphia did not receive a player from this transaction who matched Rowe's direct contribution to New England. The deal was sensible roster management, but its realized football payoff was lighter.
Final Verdict
Philadelphia deserves a C+ for salvaging useful draft capital from a recent second-round pick who no longer fit. New England earns the higher grade because Rowe became a meaningful rotational and starting corner immediately and contributed during a title season. For a future fourth-round pick, that was a successful purchase. New England Patriots Win.