The long rumored Kevin Kolb trade to the Arizona Cardinals has finally happened and is now official. The Eagles have sent backup QB Kevin Kolb to the Arizona Cardinals for 25 year old former pro bowl corner Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second round pick in 2012. As part of the deal, the Cardinals have also agreed to a new five year extension with Kolb worth a total of $63 million, including $20 million in guarantees.
The move makes it clear that the Cardinals have gone “all in” on Kevin Kolb being their franchise quarterback. For the Eagles, they pick up a young, extremely talented starting corner to fill a big hole and a second round pick in return for the guy they spent a second round pick on in 2007. It’s a pretty good return on investment anyway you slice it.
While the move is fraught with risk for the Cardinals, who gave up a ton of value and a huge contract to an almost completely unproven QB, the Eagles have taken on some risk here as well. If indeed Kolb becomes the kind of QB the Cardinals think he can, there’s no doubt that they will have “won” this trade. You just can’t put a price on a franchise QB and the team who gets him is always the winner.
Still, the Eagles will come out looking very good in the short term either way. The centerpiece of deal for them is 25 year old corner Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. “DRC” as he is often referred to has prototypical size and speed for the corner position at 6-2 with long arms and the ability to run a 4.29 40. He fills a hug hole at the corner position opposite Asante Samuel and immediately represents a dramatic upgrade to the Eagles defense. The Eagles can now legitimately make a claim to having the best pair of corners in the NFL. We’ll have to see if the Jets sign Nnamdi Asomugha to pair with Darrell Revis before we award that title however…
Speaking of the Raiders pro bowler, Rodgers has a big advantage over Asomugha or another free agent like Jonathon Joseph. Signing one of those players would cost the Eagles upwards of $10-$12 million a year. Conversely, the Eagles get DRC this season for $950 K and next year for $1.13 mil. Presumably, they will look to extend him in the next year, but for now they’ve got a fantastic young corner for incredibly cheap.
For more reaction and analysis to the Kolb trade, check out Bleeding Green Nation.