Roster turnover is inevitable in the NFL especially after you win a Super Bowl. But sometimes, the ones that get away come back to haunt you and sometimes the holes that those players leave behind set you back. For the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025, three names stand out – cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, guard Mekhi Becton and edge rusher Bryce Huff, yes that Bryce Huff. Their absence only magnifies the issues created by CB2 Adoreeâ Jacksonâs rocky start, the complete disappearing act of the vaunted run game in Philadelphia and what might have been had Huff been used properly in Philly.
Isaiah Rodgers: From A Piece to the Missing PieceÂ
Philadelphia barely scratched the surface with Isaiah Rodgers. He sat out the 2023 season with a suspension and last year, he was more of a rotational corner and special-teams asset – just a piece to the Eagles’ Super Bowl title team. But last March the Vikings snatched him up in free agency and he has exploded in Minnesota as one of the premier defensive stars in the game through three weeks.
- Signed a 2-year, $15M deal with the Vikings in March.
- In Week 3 against the Bengals, Rodgers had one of the most dominant defensive performances youâll ever see – he caused multiple turnovers,scored two defensive touchdowns, forced two fumbles, and a tallied a perfect 99.9 PFF game grade which is virtually unheard of.
- Early returns suggest heâs more than a flash-in-the-pan. Heâs producing consistently as Minnesotaâs defensive coordinator Brian Floresâ new weapon in the secondary.
Howie Verdict: WhiffÂ
The Eagles had him in the building and couldnât unlock this version. What’s worse is that they still havenât solved the CB2 spot opposite Darius Slay. Rodgers would look like a tailor-made solution at this point.
Adoreeâ Jackson: The CB2 Gamble is a Bust
Instead of Rodgers, the Eagles rolled the dice on Adoreeâ Jackson. So far, it hasnât paid off. In fact it’s been an epic bust. Jackon left the Rams’ game with a groin injury in the fourth quarter and did not return.
- Jackson has been picked on repeatedly in coverage, giving up chunk plays and missing tackles. Â
- His missed tackles and lapses in positioning have made him a clear target for opposing QBs.
- While Slay continues to play at a high level in Pittsburgh, Jacksonâs struggles and now injury have turned CB2 into a glaring hole exactly the kind of weakness Rodgers is filling for Minnesota.
The Eagles didnât just lose Rodgers they tried to patch over his absence with a stopgap solution, and itâs backfiring – big time.
Mekhi Becton: Irreplaceable So Far
Becton is a different story. He came to Philly as a reclamation project and proved he could stay healthy and hold down the interior in 2024. That earned him a 2-year, $20M deal with the Chargers.
- Heâs starting in L.A. but the performance hasnât been elite.
- PFF has him grading around 57.8 in pass protection and 50.8 in run blocking is middle to below-average among guards.
- None of that matters. What matters is that Becton was a bull on the right side of the Birds’ offensive line and they haven’t replaced his services and it shows in the anemic running game this year.
Howie Verdict: Whiff
The Eagles got good value out of him during his stint, but moving on was about cap flexibility and future planning. The Eagles picked up former first round pick Kenyon Green from the Texans in the CJGJ trade with hopes that he could be offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland’s next reclamation project. The problem? Green was waived Monday. The other problem? The offensive line hasnât played up to its usual standard in 2025. Cam Jurgens and Landon Dickerson have both struggled, and run-blocking has slipped badly – one reason Saquon Barkley hasnât had a single run over 20 yards this year. Losing Bectonâs steadiness inside has left a visible gap.
Bryce Huff: The Trade That Looks Worse by the Week
This is the move that stings the most.
- Light return: Philly traded Huff to the 49ers for a mid-rounder that only escalates to a 4th if he hits 8 sacks in 2025.
- Cash sweetener: The Eagles ate ~$9.05M of his 2025 salary just to move him. Thatâs paying to lose a premium pass rusher, at least a premium pass rusher when used properly.
- Bad optics: In San Francisco, Huff immediately flashed delivering a game-sealing strip-sack, elite get-off speed – and with Nick Bosaâs ACL tear, his presence looks like a steal for the Niners.
Howie Verdict: Whiff
To be fair Huff never meshed with Phillyâs scheme and wanted out. From the front office view, it was a fit/culture/cap reset. But outcome far outwieghs the intent and the outcome looks like a clear L in the loss column.
At a Glance it Doesn’t Look Pretty
- At corner: The Eagles let Rodgers walk, gambled on Jackson, and still donât have a reliable CB2.
- On the line: Theyâve yet to replace Bectonâs durability, and Jurgens/Dickersonâs regression has gutted run blocking. Barkley is meeting defenders at the line, not at the second level.
- On the edge: They effectively subsidized San Franciscoâs pass rush by shipping Huff out.
Homerun Howie Takes Big Cuts and Big Misses
The bottom line is that even the top general managers in the league miss every now and then. Howie takes big cuts and with big cuts come big misses. But when the whiffs come in bunches is when the continuity or lack thereof starts to show up on the field.
Isaiah Rodgers got away. Heâs thriving in Minnesota while the Eagles are patching together a shaky CB2 rotation. Adoreeâ Jackson was supposed to fill that void, but his struggles have only magnified the miss. Mekhi Becton isnât dominating in L.A., but the Eaglesâ own struggles inside raise questions. It’s clear that Howie Roseman underestimated how much stability he brought to the trenches and Huff could eventually be a guy that the Eagles are paying to come haunt them in January.
The Birds remain one of the most talented teams in football. That’s the only reason why they are a perfect 3-0 after three weeks. But Rodgersâ breakout, Jacksonâs regression, and Bectonâs absence highlight the thin margins of roster building and just how important talent evaluation is for your football team. Depth and detail matter and right now, those missing pieces are showing up on the field and it could be only a matter of time until they show up in the standings.
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