Philadelphia Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman explained the trade of safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans, citing financial constraints. Despite criticism, Roseman emphasized the importance of budgeting to pay younger players, saying “every dollar you spend is a dollar less you can spend on younger players.”
The Eagles have several highly paid players, including eight making $15 million or more. They also have eight starters from the 2022-2024 drafts without long-term contracts. Roseman wants to avoid losing multiple players at once in the future.
Gardner-Johnson became the odd man out due to financial constraints. Roseman acknowledged criticism of the trade but noted it must be evaluated in context. The Eagles prioritized keeping linebacker Zack Baun and extending Saquon Barkley and Lane Johnson.
Roseman emphasized the importance of drafting well and keeping young players. He noted that the key to building a sustainable winner is getting productive young players to bolster highly paid players on the roster. This sometimes requires making tough decisions to let good players go.
The trade allows the Eagles to gain financial flexibility and focus on signing younger players. While it may not be a popular move, Roseman has earned the benefit of the doubt due to his successful draft picks and team management.
In the trade, the Eagles received beleaguered guard Kenyon Green and a late-round pick swap in 2026. Gardner-Johnson was a starting safety who helped the Eagles reach the Super Bowl twice in two years. Roseman praised his performance but emphasized the need for financial flexibility.
Ultimately, the trade reflects the Eagles’ focus on building a sustainable winner through smart financial management and investing in young players.
