Eagles acquire QB Gardner Minshew from Jaguars

Trade! NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport broke the news on Saturday morning that the Philadelphia Eagles have acquired quarterback Gardner Minshew from the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a conditional sixth-round draft pick. The sixth-round pick becomes a fifth-rounder if Minshew plays 50% of the team’s snap in three games in 2021.

The team also released quarterback Nick Mullens.

Use promo code THEBIRDSBLITZ when you sign up for ThriveFantasy today and you will receive an instant bonus of up to $50 on your first deposit of $20 or more! >>>

The 6th rounder can become a fifth rounder for the #Jaguars if Minshew plays 50% in 3 games. For the #Eagles, they considered spending a late-rounder on a QB this year. Instead, they use a late-rounder next year on a QB with starting experience. https://t.co/LRXTcIc3lS

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 28, 2021

Why make this move?

Prior to the trade, the Eagles had three quarterbacks on their roster: Jalen Hurts, Joe Flacco, and Nick Mullens. Hurts is the starter, Flacco is the aging veteran backup who may very well be playing his final season, and Mullens is…bad. Gardner Minshew just turned 25 years old and is under contract for two more seasons. Minshew had an excellent rookie season in 2019 but regressed on a bad Jaguars team in 2020.

Minshew gives the Eagles a competent backup option who is under team control for two more seasons. If Hurts is the quarterback of the future, then Philadelphia has an affordable backup for at least the next two seasons. If Hurts isn’t the guy, then they will have Minshew as a veteran to consider starting in 2022 while they figure out the future at the position, or they will once again have him as the backup to another young quarterback.

In short, it’s a low-risk move that makes a ton of sense. Minshew is clearly better than Nick Mullens, and it’s possible he’s better than Flacco at this point in their careers. The question now becomes: do the Eagles keep three quarterbacks? Or could Flacco be on his way out, too? Flacco played well in the Eagles’ preseason finale against the Jets, but he turns 37 years old in January.

Gardner Minshew’s career stats

Gardner Minshew’s contract

Subscribe to our posts and bookmark these feeds:

* * *

Mike Maher is the editor and publisher of The Birds Blitz and Juiced Ball Era. Follow him on Twitter @mikeMaher and @TheBirdsBlitz and check out his Eagles news archive for all of his latest stories about the Eagles and the NFL.

Image caption: Jacksonville Jaguars Quarterback Gardner Minshew II (15) during the preseason game between the Cleveland Browns and the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 14, 2021 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire)