‘Howie just robbed all of Duval,’ Eagles fans show love, and more reactions to the Jordan Davis trade
Does the move signal a rebuild? Is it Roseman’s “greatest trade?” And how much will Birds fans miss the “heart and soul” of the defense? Here’s what they’re saying.
On Monday, the day before the NFL trade deadline, the Eagles dealt defensive tackle Jordan Davis to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick.
Davis, a first-rounder in 2022, gave fans plenty of memories during his time in Philly — from his walk-off touchdown against the Rams to the time he showed off his singing with The Philly Specials in their rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
Now, the Super Bowl champion is bringing his talents to Jacksonville in a blockbuster trade. Here’s how the national media and fans are reacting:
‘Howie just robbed all of Duval’
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has created quite the name for himself when it comes to acquiring talent — whether it’s trading up for DeVonta Smith in the 2021 draft or acquiring A.J. Brown in 2022 and then trading him to the New England Patriots this offseason. But with the Eagles currently sitting at 2-7, former Eagles linebacker Emmanuel Acho believes this may be Roseman’s best move yet.
“I can’t believe Howie did this,” Acho said on The Speakeasy podcast. “I can’t believe Howie pulled this one off. Howie just robbed all of Duval. Howie robbed all of them, bro. … So you just traded a player that 16 months ago was perceived to be a bust, a player that’s really perceived as a two-down player for a first- and a second-round pick after drafting him in the first round 4½ years ago. This is Howie Roseman’s greatest trade of his career. I’ve never seen a swindler like Howie swindle as magnificently as he just did today because he quite literally robbed all of Jacksonville in this one move.”
Mike Golic Jr. also praised Roseman on The Golics podcast.
“Howie is doing the thing again,” he said. “They know what it looks like to have a championship-contending roster, and this year ain’t it. And so what are they going to do? Get as much as possible to load up around the core pieces that they keep on this team and go for it in the future with an arsenal of picks. … In terms of the actual value, yes, Howie won this trade, but I admire the way both sides are going about this with a clear understanding of who they are right now.”
‘I wouldn’t have traded for Jordan Davis’
Former Broncos and Ravens tight end Shannon Sharpe also wasn’t a fan of the trade for the Jaguars.
“I wouldn’t have traded for Jordan Davis; let me tell you why,” Sharpe said on the Nightcap podcast. “Because he got paid and his production stopped, and I got to worry about his weight. I’m not giving up a first and a second for him. I’m not. Bro, you’re playing next to Jalen Carter. Look at the guys he’s playing next to. I watched him until he got that contract. Eagles fans, y’all can vouch for me. Y’all tell me Jordan Davis has played this year like y’all saw him play the last two years. Look at his numbers. I’m not giving up that kind of compensation.”
Following a breakout 2025 season, the Eagles signed Davis to a three-year $78 million contract extension in March. The trade kick-started speculation about a rebuild as the Birds acquire future draft capital.
“Howie Roseman has accumulated five first-round picks and five second-round picks in the next three drafts,” Colin Cowherd said on The Colin Cowherd Podcast. “So it is total rebuild for the Philadelphia Eagles. My guess is Sirianni is not long. And I’m not sure Jalen Hurts is.”
‘Biggest defensive line in football’
The news of trading Davis just eight months after his extension was a surprise to ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky, who has big expectations for the Jaguars’ defensive line.
“James Gladstone, man, has just been aggressive,” Orlovsky said of the Jags’ general manager. “Just so everyone understands, this defensive line now that was outstanding beforehand, Arik Armstead is 6-foot-7, 290 pounds, Josh Hines-Allen is 6-foot-6, 260 pounds, [Travon] Walker is 6-foot-5, 280 pounds, and now Jordan Davis is 6-foot-6, 325 pounds. This is the biggest defensive line in football now. Probably one of the biggest in the history of the NFL, just size-wise. All in, all in. This was the best team in the AFC before this to me. I think obviously now.”
The Jaguars also traded a 2027 second-round pick and 2028 fifth-round pick to the Falcons for safety Jessie Bates III and a 2028 sixth-round pick to the New Orleans Saints for defensive tackle Davon Godchaux.
Fans show love
Fans also took the time to show love to the defensive tackle through social media — through heartfelt messages, highlights of his career, and video collages of his time in Philly.
