Colts: Eagles draft room dysfunction has to further validate Carson Wentz trade

The Indianapolis Colts are currently taking some heat for their mystifying approach to the draft thus far, as they’ve selected two defensive linemen and a tight end despite pressing needs at left tackle, cornerback and (in a lesser sense) wide receiver.

With these feelings not going away anytime soon, why don’t we pivot and shine light on one of general manager Chris Ballard’s finest moves of the offseason? We’re talking about the heist he pulled off by landing quarterback Carson Wentz from the Eagles.

The Colts were able to acquire Wentz in exchange for a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional second-rounder next year, which is incredible when you recall that Philadelphia was initially demanding multiple first-rounders in return for its former No. 2 overall pick.

We’ve spent the last few months laughing at the Eagles’ dysfunction, which was recently encapsulated in a scathing story published by The Athletic. Well, in light of Indy’s controversial draft picks why not revisit this uplifting narrative?

Following the selection of defensive tackle Milton Williams in the third round (No. 73 overall), Eagles GM Howie Roseman was spotted giving fist pumps to the team’s draft room in celebration of the pick, which they clearly viewed as a steal.

There was only one problem. Near the end of the clip, Roseman appeared to receive a diss from Tom Donahoe, the Eagles’ senior director of player personnel. You can literally see Donahoe give a half-hearted fist bump and seemingly express his indifference with the pick.

The Colts’ trade for Carson Wentz was further validated by the Eagles’ draft room dysfunction during Round 3.

This has to further validate the Colts’ decision to trade for Wentz, no?

It’s not always sunshine and rainbows in the draft room, but these issues are supposed to be hashed out while executives and scouts debate which player to take. It’s very rare that you see disagreements of this magnitude caught on tape, but the Eagles are the gift that keeps on giving.

Donohoe is regarded as an essential voice in the Eagles’ player evaluation department, and it’s clear he either wasn’t consulted on the pick or Roseman and Co. moved forward with the pick in spit of his negative input.

Whatever the case, the Eagles made a mockery of themselves earlier in the draft when someone noted that their big board was facing a colossal reflecting mirror. With the technology available these days, a quick zoom and focus with expensive equipment would’ve been all it took for a rival to swipe a copy of their highest-ranked players.

Shouldn’t hiding your big board be the No. 1 rule of drafting? At the very least, the Eagles’ front office should’ve been aware there were cameras scattered throughout their draft room. Who knows? Maybe they knew and argued on camera anyway.

Given all of the damning reports about the organization’s dysfunction over the years, we cannot say we’re surprised that the Eagles, who’ve actually enjoyed a decent draft thus far, stole the spotlight for all the wrong reasons this weekend.

There’s no doubting Wentz contributed to his falling out in Philadelphia, but the last few months have proven he was never going to reach his ceiling there and the Colts were geniuses to trade for him when they did back in January.

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