Roseman: Birds Weren’t Looking To Trade Bradford

Howie Roseman. (Jeff Fusco)

Despite the deal they ended up making, the Eagles weren’t actively looking to trade Sam Bradford, a notion Howie Roseman reiterated several times Saturday during his press conference. But after Teddy Bridgewater suffered a season-ending knee injury on Tuesday, the Vikings made the Eagles an offer Roseman couldn’t refuse.

“We did not go into this wanting to trade Sam Bradford. We did not call anyone on Sam Bradford. But after the trade offer they made, we just felt like this was the right decision for our football team,” Roseman said. “The only circumstance that changed was this trade offer from the Vikings. This was not our blueprint. This was not part of the plan.”

Roseman confirmed the terms of the trade and how the 2018 fourth-round pick the Eagles receive is conditional upon the Vikings’ success this season. The Eagles reportedly get a third-round pick and give back a seventh-round selection if the Vikings reach the NFC Championship Game, while Philadelphia gets a second-round pick if Minnesota wins the Super Bowl. The 2017 first-round pick the Eagles receive has no conditions.

Roseman has not yet spoken to Bradford — he left the quarterback a message — but Doug Pederson, whose father passed away last night taking him away from the NovaCare Complex, did talk to the Eagles’ former signal-caller. Roseman added that the negotiations weren’t very “normal,” as there wasn’t as much “give and take” between the two teams. He also noted how Minnesota initiated the conversations, and that Philadelphia received calls from multiple teams this week inquiring about Bradford.

With Bradford gone, Carson Wentz is reportedly the starter for the regular season opener against the Browns next week. Roseman declined to say whether Wentz is now first on the depth chart, but he did mention the rookie “has come a long way” since April and how the Eagles’ medical staff is optimistic about Wentz’s recovery from his rib injury.