Not A Second Round Pick

While I'm not willing to make any kind of firm prediction -- because soap operas are well-known for their twists and turns -- I don't think Donovan McNabb is going anywhere this offseason.  The reason is simple:  the Eagles organization (unlike many fans, broadcasters and writers) understands that quarterbacks with his skills don't just grow on trees. 

I will guarantee, however, that if Donovan McNabb gets traded, it won't be for this supposed market price:

Reports recently circulated that an unnamed team learned before the 2007 trade deadline that Philly wanted a whopping three first-round picks for the No. 2 overall pick in the 1999 draft.

Though that very well might have been a deliberate effort by Philly to get more than the second-round pick that the market might otherwise dictate...

Not to pick on PFT twice in one week, but this is maybe the fifth time I've heard someone suggest McNabb could be had for a #2.

That's mind-bogglingly stupid.

Pretend for just a moment that you were a poor unfortunate sap who happened to be a Chicago Bears fan.  If you learned that your team could have McNabb for the next few years for the PIDDLING price of just a second-round pick, how quickly would you jump on that deal?  Faster than Rex Grossman could throw his next interception, I bet.

I realize those #2 picks are valuable (after all, it's not every day you can get a Matt McCoy, Quintin Caver or Todd Pinkston...), but c'mon.  It's Donnie Freaking McNabb.  Even if you think he's nothing more than the 12th-best QB in the league these days, that's still a ridiculous price.  You'd be furious if the Bears passed that up.

And if you think it's an injury issue, remember that Javon Walker was much closer to his ACL reconstruction surgery when the Broncos traded a second-rounder for him -- with only one year left on his deal.

If the Eagles trade McNabb this year, it's going to be because some other team offered a franchise-changing deal.  We're talking multiple draft picks, with at least one being high up in the first round.  There will be no fire sale as long as Reid and Banner are in charge.

Comments

[Steve]

You are 2000% right. It wouldn't make any sense to trade him for a 2nd round pick. There are only two factors that could change this:
1. McNabb forces their hand to trade him.
2. The market sees that the Eagles are in a bind and have to trade him, and lower their price accordingly.
I think, even if #2 happened, they would still get at least a #1 (I keep thinking about Drew Bledsoe - was he worth more than McNabb?)

[Dan]

We've consistently overestimated McNabb.

Teams aren't going to give up #1s for soap operas and players who don't show up big in big games.

But regardless of that, McNabb is staying.

That gigantic man-hug Reid gave in Washington told us that McNabb was coming back.

Not to mention Reid is something of a hammerhead. The more callers want McNabb ridden out of town on a rail, the more adamant Reid becomes.

McNabb is coming back.

Reid is probably coming back, {interestingly it's much more likely that Reid asks for time away for personal reasons than the organization release McNabb}. Pat Summerall spoke with Jeff Laurie recently and ASKED POINT BLANK about McNabb's status, and Laurie sang his praises, calling McNabb "still a young man" in his prime."

So Laurie, an owner keen on social causes, is still devoted to McNabb.

Steve is right to observe that McNabb might force their hand. His comments to Pam Oliver weren't anything new. He knows he's become a rather pathetic figure in these parts. So he might now want out, thinking that he might end up in Washington, Minnesota or Chicago, where the grass would be greener for him.

McNabb is an awfully delicate, little flower.

So it's very possible he might force the Eagles to deal him out of here, whether Reid and Laurie actually want to or not.

Imagine the irony, McNabb working in unison with guys like me, who are now in the clear majority, who want him driven forth in sackcloth and ash.

But I think the safe bet is on #5 coming back, and the soap opera continuing for yet another long, long year.

It looks like the NFC East is going to send 3 out of 4 teams to the playoffs.

What's McNabb going to accomplish next year in an increasingly difficult NFC East?

He might very well be the 4th ranked QB of the 4 QBs of the NFC East.

Well, we will surely see how this soap opera unfolds.

[Dave]

i feel like we traded Feeley for a two. How in the world do they say McNabb has the same price?

[BrianS]

Clear majority? No way. Clear majority of Angelo Cataldi callers? Maybe.

And if Donovan is 4th out of 4 in the division this year -- don't you think his recovery from injury played a role in that?

Do you really think Eli Manning and Jason Campbell are better than a healthy McNabb?

And get back to me when Romo wins a playoff game. He's having a great year, but what has he accomplished that McNabb hasn't done multiple times in his career? Pro Bowl? Getting to the playoffs?

It's ok to wonder about McNabb's future, and it's ok to question whether he can be as good as he was in 2003-2004 again, but I hate it when people act like he's never been good.

[BFH]

I picture Dan in his living room screaming "NOOOO!! Break his leg! Kill him!" as McNabb was running towards the end zone on Sunday.

He's the kind of guy who was cheering on Roy Williams as he horse-collared our QB.

[Ajay]

I don't have much new to add that hasn't already been said, other than the fact that I stand by McNabb and agree that he is an elite QB having going through a rough patch for a bunch of reasons. Yes, elite: Peyton for all his statistical feats has sucked often in the playoffs and was popularly referred to as a "choker" until he won the big one. To be blunt, and repetitive, the people who are crowing for Kolb and want 5 thrown out of town are smoking crack.

I'd also like to thank Derek for raising the bar for here and stimulating interesting, evidence backed discussions. Yes, this is entertainment, but I enjoy putting more effort than just kicking back with beers every Sunday (yes, that is also awesome). Anyway, no slight to individual opinions, but as others have pointed out, Dan, your argument is ill grounded and make no sense. BTW, the Eagles owner is Jeff Lurie, not Laurie.

[eagle scout]

I'd assume McNabb could garner maybe one first round draft pick at this point given Daunte Culpepper garnered a second round pick, post-knee injury in 2006.