The Trades Deeply Affected Both Organizations. Yet Washington Remains a Top Eagles Trading Partner to This Day.
It’s sometimes difficult to remember that 2018 wasn’t the only season when the Eagles had two quarterbacks on the roster capable of winning a championship. When Nick Foles became the first ever quarterback to win a Super Bowl in Philadelphia — everyone wondered what would happen to Carson Wentz. Fifty-seven years earlier — the Eagles won another championship with Norm Van Brocklin — “The Dutchman” under center.
On the Eagles sideline — was Sonny Jurgensen.
Jurgenson was drafted by the Eagles in 1957. When Van Brocklin retired after winning the Championship in 1960 — Jurgensen became the starter. After a season as an NFL passing leader and record setter with 3,723 yards in 1961 — on April 1st, 1964 — the Eagles traded him to the Washington Redskins in return for Norm Snead and defensive back Claude Crabb.
On Easter 2010 — not long after Eagles Coach Andy Reid committed to quarterback Donovan McNabb to begin the next season — Philadelphia traded him to Washington in return for draft picks. Despite giving McNabb a five-year $78 Million extension after five games — he would only play one season in Washington — and was sent to third string in late December of that same year.
In the final edition of the Carson Wentz transaction this year — after already having drafted rookie-of-the-year finalist Quinyon Mitchell from Toledo — the Eagles would trade two 2024 second round picks and a fifth round pick. They would use one of the three picks that they got back from the Washington Commanders including the 40th pick overall to draft — you guessed it — Cooper DeJean.
Sonny Jurgensen would play ten more years for Washington until 1974 including a short stint with Coach Vince Lombardi. Jurgensen is considered by many as being the best pure passer of all-time. His last game was an playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams. Neither Claude Crabb nor Norm Snead could stop the Eagles from falling into the cellar. They would not be relevant again until the mid-1970s when Dick Vermeil took the job as Head Coach.
Aside from the Jurgensen trade — the other two April deals with Washington were winners for the Eagles. Washington has helped the Eagles craft one of the best one secondaries in the NFL. The picks that the Eagles got in return helped to draft Safety Nate Allen in 2010, and linebacker Casey Matthews in 2011. Donovan McNabb would be traded to Minnesota in July 2011. After a 1–5 start — McNabb was benched in favor of Christian Ponder. He would never play in the NFL again and retired as an Eagle in July of 2013. His retirement was six months after the man who drafted him in 1999 — Andy Reid – was fired by the Eagles.
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