Kevin Kolb Traded to Arizona Cardinals: Do Eagles or Cardinals Win This Trade?

This is the second successive offseason that the Eagles have pulled off a marquee trade but this time, they did not sacrifice a marquee player. Kevin Kolb has played a huge part in both of those deals and he will ultimately determine whether the Philadelphia Eagles or Arizona Cardinals win this trade.

As of today however, there is only one winner in this deal.

The Philadelphia Eagles have essentially turned their backup quarterback into an above average starting cornerback as well as a second round draft choice.

The winner of this trade is undoubtedly the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles are either brilliant or lucky because of the way they have managed Kevin Kolb since last year. For onlooking franchises, Kevin Kolb appears to be the reason that the team was willing to trade Donovan McNabb last year.

The fact that the Eagles were willing to put their future in the hands of Kolb at the expense of a veteran such as McNabb, tells other teams that Kolb has the potential to be special.

His reputation was heightened even further when Andy Reid hesitated to name Michael Vick the team's starter even though the gulf in class on the field was obvious to everyone.

This is the problem with Kolb. His whole value is based on reputation and hype rather than on the field production.

Why else would the Cardinals have reportedly agreed to sign the player to a five year deal for $63 million with over $20 million guaranteed. It's not like they are getting a proven player: Kolb has thrown for more interceptions than touchdowns during his seven career NFL starts.

The Cardinals have only traded for Kolb out of sheer desperation because of the inability of the quarterbacks on their current roster and the lack of other available options. The team could have drafted Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker or Christian Ponder during the draft but each of those players would have had to wait for each to develop while also committing a huge amount to a top five overall choice.

Obviously the Cardinals have made a big commitment to Kolb also but they believe that he is the best option to take advantage of Larry Fitzgerald while he is still in his prime. The years of working in Andy Reid's offense and being part of one of the most stable franchises in the league should stand to him as far as his transition into becoming a starter goes but that does not make him a viable starter.

Kolb has proven nothing to this point in the NFL. He has potential, there is no doubt about that. However no player has ever won anything off of his potential. Potential is useless if a player never reaches it. There is no team in the league that has ever won a Super Bowl from the potential of it's players.

There is as much a risk in Kevin Kolb becoming a bust as much as there is in any other quarterback. The worst thing about this trade is the fact that should Kolb struggle, then the Cardinals will struggle and could be in contention for one of the big quarterbacks coming out of college next year.

Should the Cardinals end up in a position to draft Matt Barkley or even Andrew Luck, they will not be able to because of the money that they have committed to Kolb. The better scenario for the Cardinals is that Kolb inspires the offense and kicks it back into life.

However even if he has a Kurt Warner like impact the Cardinals do not have the receivers that they once had. The team once had three studs at receiver in Anquan Boldin, Larry FItzgerald and Steve Breaston.

Boldin left before last season while Breaston signed with the Chiefs yesterday. The Chiefs offense figures to be a play action unit relying on the strong running of Ryan Williams and Chris Wells before looking for Larry Fitzgerald deep.

Which is a problem for Kolb who's deep ball accuracy has been questioned by some analysts.

The Eagles quarterback trade this year hasn't cost them their starting quarterback but this trade has brought a greater return than the last. Donovan McNabb was traded for two draft picks including a second rounder.

This time around the team got a second round pick as well as a proven starter in a position of need. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is an above average starting cornerback. In my mind he is not an elite player like some believe but he is an above average second choice corner.

He and Patrick Peterson would have made the Cardinals starting four—along with Kerry Rhodes and Adrian Wilson—one of the best in the whole NFL. He will instead create a formidable tandem with Asante Samuel in Philadelphia.

The Eagles had a need for a new cornerback and much of the hype surrounding them was pointing towards Nnamdi Asomugha. Rodgers-Cromartie may be a more prudent pickup allowing the team to spend money elsewhere.

This trade turns the Eagles secondary into a group with a very good mixture of youth and experience. Rodgers-Cromartie is only 25 but has been a starter for the best part of three seasons including a trip to the Super Bowl as a rookie. He and Samuel will be important for second year free safety Nate Allen and rookie Jaiquawn Jarrett who are likely to be the other starters in the secondary.

The idea that the Eagles have given up their backup quarterback, who admittedly does have greater value when Michael Vick is the team's starter, for a young, talented cornerback with experience as a starter and second round pick is incredible.

There are plenty of replacement backup quarterbacks who can fill Kevin Kolb's shoes who won't come at a cap breaking price. Players such as Vince Young have been touted who in a sense has proven more during his career than Kolb and has just as much potential.

Kevin Kolb may be the next Peyton Manning, but then again his chances at being that are only marginally better than Max Hall's.

There is definitely only one winner in this trade, and that winner is the Philadelphia Eagles.

...although Kevin Kolb is probably feeling pretty good about himself right now too.

Serial tweeting about NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA, Soccer and Rugby  @Cianaf

I also write for Irish Central and Fantasy Football Life.