Donovan McNabb Traded to Redskins

The Donovan McNabb trade watch is over, as the Eagles have shockingly dealt their longtime star quarterback to the division rival Washington Redskins.

The Redskins get McNabb in exchange for Washinton's second-round pick in this year's draft (No. 37 overall) and a conditional 2011 pick, either a third-rounder or a fourth-rounder, depending on how McNabb plays. The trade likely ends any chance the Redskins will land Oklahoma's Sam Bradford in this year's draft (and may indicate that Bradford and the Rams are moving closer to a deal), and barring further moves, leaves Kevin Kolb as the Eagles' starting quarterback for 2010, with Michael Vick as the backup.



Share "We listened to a lot of different deals that were presented to us on all three quarterbacks," Eagles coach Andy Reid said on a Sunday night conference call. "This one was the best, and it gave Donovan a chance to go someplace he wanted to go to."

Reid said McNabb's preference was to remain in Philadelphia, but the team kept McNabb abreast of their trade discussions and listened to his input on places he'd want to play. McNabb's willingness to play in Washington, Reid said, was a main reason the Eagles dealt him to a division rival. As for whether he dreads playing against McNabb twice a year ...

"He's going to make the Redskins a better football team," Reid said. "And time will tell on the rest."

The move follows a two-week stretch in which McNabb has been twisting in the wind, ever since Reid admitted at the league meetings that his team was fielding offers for its quarterbacks. There were reports of McNabb going everywhere from the Raiders to the Cardinals to the Vikings, but no one ever imagined the Eagles would trade him within the division. Apparently, the Eagles decided Kolb was ready enough to start that the 37th pick in this year's draft plus a pick next year were worth cutting ties with their veteran leader. The Eagles now have 11 picks in this year's draft.

Reid plainly said Sunday night that Kolb would be his starting quarterback and Vick would be the backup. Vick said during the 2009 season that he hoped to be a starting quarterback in 2010, but Reid said he's not worried.

"I have a heck of a lot of respect for Michael Vick," Reid said. "Last year was great for him, just to get back to where he needed to be, and we'll see how things go this year. I know that's a heck of a good situation for a football coach to be in, having two guys of that caliber."

Kolb was impressive as a fill-in starter in 2009, throwing for more than 300 yards in each of the two games he started in place of an injured McNabb. Now it appears he'll get the chance to grow, mature and enter his prime along with other young Eagle offensive stars such as Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy.

"The things I see in Kevin?" Reid said. "Just basically a smart kid, good learner, reads coverages well, has good athletic ability and good arm strength."

What he doesn't have is experience as an NFL starter, especially in front of a very demanding Eagle fan base that isn't going to take kindly to a rebuilding team in 2010.

"Donovan McNabb was more than a franchise quarterback for this team," Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said in the team release. "He has been an excellent representative of this organization and the entire National Football League both on and off the field."

For the Redskins, the move is a big splash in what had been a dud of an offseason. Many expected Washington to make a ton of free-agent moves with no salary cap, but they sat out the big signings and spent their time bringing in aging running backs such as Larry Johnson and Willie Parker. Now they have their quarterback, and can shuttle Jason Campbell to the bench (or trade him) and focus on upgrading their offensive line with the No. 4 overall pick in this year's draft.