Eagles helped Chiefs draft Josh Simmons and didn’t regret it one bit

The Philadelphia Eagles realized they might be giving Brett Veach and the Kansas City Chiefs a "free pick" when they traded with them to swap spots in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. No matter the reason, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman seems quite okay with helping K.C. a bit.

The Eagles were positioned at No. 32 overall in the first round as the defending Super Bowl champs while the Chiefs sat at one spot before them at No. 31. In order to secure the services of the prospect they coveted most at the time—linebacker Jihaad Campbell—the Eagles initiated a switcheroo with the Chiefs general manager.

Veach agreed to the deal on the condition that Roseman would tell him which side of the ball he was focused on. When Roseman replied "defense," the Chiefs knew they could still get their man: Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons.

Howie Roseman was fine about helping Brett Veach a bit here.

The Eagles recently released some footage from their "war room" for the 2025 draft, and Chiefs fans can gain considerable insight into the processes at work behind the scenes. Draft coverage is always popular due to the drama involved, and this is no exception as the video shows Roseman fretting over an inability to find a trade partner throughout the night.

In the end, Roseman finds a partner in Veach in order to move up a single spot. He admits that he's "giving them a free pick" but it doesn't matter to him. Campbell was worth the loss of a fifth-round choice (No. 164).

"It's a close-knit fraternity, the National Football League, in these jobs," says Roseman in the video. "There's only 32 of them in the world. And, you know, at the end of the day, it's no problem that a trade's good for the other side as well, because that means we can continue to trade with that team."

It's worth watching the entire Eagles video for a glimpse at some draft action, even if it's not entirely Chiefs-related. But for those wondering what the other side was thinking in the Josh Simmons deal, you now have your answer.