This is the perspective, explained many times, that Eagles Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman constantly juggles: One eye on the "now" and one eye on the "future."
In the case of trading offensive lineman Cam Jurgens to Baltimore on Wednesday along with a 2027 seventh-round draft choice and receiving a 2027 fifth-round draft pick and a 2028 second-round draft pick, Roseman saw both pictures with 20/20 clarity.
"We weren't looking to move Cam," Roseman said shortly after the trade was announced. "Obviously, the Ravens have been looking for a center. (And I) kind of told them that wasn't anything we were looking to do. Over the last 24 hours, it got to the point where we felt like it could be a win-win for them (and for the Eagles). Obviously, getting a player who's been a two-time Pro Bowl center and obviously for us, being able to get the picks we're able to get, and use that money also to sign players. We've had a chance to watch Drew (Kendall) here play center is doing a nice job. We have a young player there.
"We're trying to win this year. I think, from my perspective, just looking at what is the ultimate goal, which is to win the last game of the year, and then to have a run like we've had."
What does it all mean? The trade of Jurgens and the retirement of right tackle Lane Johnson give the Eagles an offensive line that could look something like this on Sunday in London against Jacksonville – Jordan Mailata at left tackle, Willie Lampkin at left guard, Kendall at center, Tyler Steen at right guard, and Markel Bell at right tackle.
All of that is subject to the decision of the coaching staff, of course. Whatever configuration gets put together will be young, but one the Eagles think that can grow together for the remainder of this 2026 season and beyond.
The Eagles want to win this year and next year and next year and the next ...
"You want to have an extended run, and so my job is to look at how we can have sustained success for a long period of time, and you don't get many opportunities to get second-round picks in trades and get (salary cap) flexibility," Roseman said. "And just looking at our team, obviously a lot of guys on long-term deals and kind of being able to create some flexibility is a good situation for us, whether it's financially and also with picks."
The Eagles now have 16 selections combined in the 2027 and 2028 NFL Drafts, not counting compensatory selections awarded by the league, including two first-round picks and two second-round picks in 2028.
That is a lot of NFL Draft capital. That is a lot to build with for the future.
As for the now, the players are ready to put things together up front and build something.
"We're just focused on what's right here," Lampkin said. "We're all in this together. We're all building with each other, so I just have to stay here where I am and do what I'm asked to. I'm ready for this. This is my moment."
Said Bell: "I learned so much from Lane through Training Camp and in the season. He prepared every day the right way and he gave me the right wisdom. One thing he always told me was to not make the game bigger than it is, and I understand that. Practicing for a full week is a big help to me as opposed to going out there on short notice (as he did on Sunday against the Rams). I feel good. I feel like I'm in the right place getting ready for Sunday."
The leader of the offensive line is Mailata, the stalwart left tackle who is likely to work next to his third left guard of the season (Landon Dickerson, Jurgens) in Week 5.
"Just have to keep moving forward," the team captain said. "This is the nature of the business. There are things that are out of our control and as cliché as that sounds, it's true. It is a huge challenge for us and that's just a fact. We would ideally get the reps, get the time together. We have to keep the train going. We have a game on Sunday. That's just a fact."
