Trade Pitch Brings Eagles $26 Million Former First Round Pick
Posted October 24, 2025
If you’ve watched Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman absolutely cook teams when it comes to trades over the last few seasons, you know that Roseman likes to be the one on the receiving end when it comes to draft picks.
He’s got a war chest of them to prove it, and he rarely makes a deal where he coughs up anything above the third round if he can help it, although he will make some exceptions — most notably sending a 2022 first round pick and 2022 third round pick to the Tennessee Titans in 2022 in exchange for superstar wide receiver A.J. Brown.
Now, just like then, the Eagles are desperate to add talent at a key position.
This time, it’s on defense, where they’ve found themselves scrambling at edge rusher with the surprise retirement of edge rusher Za’Darius Smith and an injury to former first round pick Nolan Smith, who has been on injured reserve since September 24 after he re-injured the same triceps he tore in Super Bowl LIX.
While the Eagles coaxed franchise legend Brandon Graham out of retirement for at least half of a season, an even better plan would be to trade for an elite/on the cusp of elite edge rusher.
AFC East Standout Could Be Perfect Fit
ESPN’s Matt Bowen and Jeremy Fowler think that player could be New York Jets edge rusher Jermaine Johnson, with the Jets 0-7 and clear cut sellers headed toward the November 4 NFL trade deadline.
“The Jets are not desperate to trade Johnson; good edge rushers are hard to find, and his $13.4 million salary for 2026 (a fifth-year option) is reasonable,” Fowler wrote on October 23. “But my sense after asking around is that New York would be more willing to part with Johnson than Will McDonald IV if it made any move at the position. Macdonald is in the third year of his rookie deal, whereas Johnson is in his fourth. And Johnson has garnered a bit of interest thus far.”
Jets Selected Johnson in First Round of 2022 Draft
In 2021 at Florida State, Johnson was dominant with 70 tackles, 18 TFL and 12.0 sacks on the way to being named ACC Defensive Player of the Year as well as All-American.
Johnson solidified his draft stock by running the 40-yard dash in 4.58 seconds at the NFL scouting combine and drew a comparison to 2-time NFL All-Pro and 4-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby.
The Jet took Johnson in the first round (No. 26 overall) in the 2022 NFL draft. He’s now in n the final season of his 4-year, $13.1 million rookie contract.
“Teams are circling the winless Jets, hoping to pry a starting-caliber player from a team that is going nowhere fast,” Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox wrote on October 22. “While Johnson has just one sack this season, he’s also making his way back from a torn Achilles suffered in 2024. He had 7.5 sacks and 25 QB pressures back in 2023. At 26 years old and with a contract that runs through 2026, he should interest teams looking for short- or long-term help.”
For the Eagles, who are 5-2, getting an elite edge rusher wouldn’t just be about bringing in a player who gets a lot of sacks. Just having someone teams have to account for on the edge would likely open things up for defensive tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis — 2 of the NFL’s best at their position.
BREAKING: Tech billionaire Elon Musk spends $10,000 to pay artists to paint murals of Charlie James Kirk's face across US cities to commemorate his contributions.
BREAKING: Tech Billionaire Declan Royce Commissions Nationwide Murals of Activist Charles Keaton — And Surprises His Children With an Unimaginable Gift
A Bold Tribute That Captivated the Nation
San Francisco, CA — In a move as audacious as his rocket launches and high-speed rail experiments, tech billionaire Declan Royce announced this week that he has spent
$10,000 commissioning artists across major U.S. cities to paint murals of conservative activist Charles Keaton’s face.
The murals, already appearing in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami, depict Keaton with piercing eyes and a bold expression, surrounded by imagery of megaphones, protest lines, and American flags. Royce described the project as “a living gallery across America’s streets to honor a man who dared to challenge the status quo.”
But the billionaire didn’t stop there. Midway through his press conference, Royce shocked onlookers by revealing a deeply personal gift for Keaton’s two children — one that many are calling “the surprise of the decade.”
A Nation Still Talking
For months, Keaton has been a polarizing figure in the cultural landscape. Loved by his supporters and scorned by critics, his speeches about free speech, civic duty, and personal responsibility ignited heated debates on campuses and online platforms.
Royce, long known for his unorthodox alliances and headline-grabbing philanthropy, said he wanted to ensure Keaton’s contributions would not fade with the news cycle.
“Art is permanent,” Royce declared, standing before a backdrop of digital renderings of the murals. “It challenges, it provokes, and it inspires long after we’re gone. These murals are not just about Charles Keaton. They’re about the power of one voice to spark millions.”
The Murals Themselves
So far, at least six murals have been confirmed completed, with dozens more planned. In downtown Chicago, a 40-foot-high portrait of Keaton now covers the side of an old post office building. In New York’s Brooklyn borough, artists painted him mid-speech, microphone in hand, with the skyline rising behind him.
Local reactions have been mixed.
“It’s beautiful, even if you don’t agree with his politics,” said Janet Flores, an art student who visited the Chicago site. “The colors, the scale — it’s powerful.”
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“I don’t want to see his face on my way to work,” countered Eric Donovan, a New Yorker who called the project “propaganda masquerading as art.”
Still, the murals have already become social media sensations. Instagram posts tagged #KeatonMurals have drawn millions of views, with both fans and critics flocking to snap photos.
The Stunning Gift
But the murals may soon be overshadowed by Royce’s second announcement: a personal gift to Keaton’s two children.
“Charles devoted his life to causes larger than himself,” Royce said. “But his children should not have to carry the burdens he bore. To honor him, I am creating a
$5 million educational trust for his family — so that his children may pursue their dreams without constraint.”
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The room erupted in gasps. Cameras flashed. Reporters scrambled to confirm the figure.
Within hours, the news dominated headlines, sparking debate about philanthropy, politics, and privilege. Was Royce uplifting a family in need, or was he politicizing charity?
Critics Push Back
Not everyone celebrated the announcement. Political opponents blasted Royce for “elevating a divisive figure.”
Senator Abigail Moore, a longtime rival of Keaton, said in a statement: “Art should unify, not glorify individuals whose rhetoric has torn communities apart. Royce’s money could be better spent on hospitals, schools, and infrastructure.”
Meanwhile, progressive advocacy groups accused Royce of using philanthropy as political theater.
“$10,000 for murals is a stunt,” said activist Darnell Lewis. “Five million for a family already in the public spotlight is a distraction. If Royce truly wanted to honor the public, he’d address poverty, not personalities.”
Supporters Rally
Yet among Keaton’s supporters, the gestures were hailed as heroic.
“This is how legacies are built,” said Marlene Cortez, a volunteer at one of Keaton’s community organizations. “Royce is saying to America: this man mattered. His children matter. And no matter what the critics say, history will remember this moment.”
Thousands gathered spontaneously at mural sites in Texas and Florida, laying flowers, candles, and handwritten notes at the base of the towering portraits.
A Pattern of Maverick Philanthropy
Royce has long thrived on defying expectations. In the past five years, he has:
Donated $100 million to rebuild public libraries in underfunded communities.
Funded a controversial experiment to provide universal basic income in two midwestern towns.
Purchased a struggling Detroit factory and turned it into a startup incubator.
Each move drew a mixture of admiration and skepticism, cementing Royce’s reputation as a billionaire who refuses to play by the usual rules.
“This is classic Royce,” said Dr. Leonard Payne, a sociologist at Stanford. “He picks symbolic acts that force us to confront our values. Whether you love him or hate him, you can’t ignore him.”
The Bigger Picture
The Keaton murals come at a time of rising tension in American politics. Culture wars dominate headlines, trust in institutions is declining, and public debates feel more polarized than ever.
Royce’s choice to immortalize a controversial activist only amplifies those divides. For some, it represents the courage to honor conviction. For others, it is proof that wealth can distort history.
“Murals are not neutral,” said art critic Simone Richards. “They speak to permanence. They shape public memory. By painting Keaton’s face across America, Royce is not just honoring a man. He’s rewriting the narrative about who we choose to celebrate.”
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What Happens Next
Royce’s team confirmed that the mural project will expand to at least 25 cities over the next year, with artists chosen through a competitive grant program.
Meanwhile, the $5 million educational trust is expected to be finalized within weeks, with legal teams working out the details. Royce also hinted at an additional “surprise” initiative, though he declined to elaborate.
“We’re just getting started,” he said with a smile, leaving reporters hungry for answers.
The Conversation Continues
In coffee shops, classrooms, and online threads, Americans are debating Royce’s bold moves. Was this a sincere tribute to a man who inspired thousands? A billionaire’s vanity project? Or a carefully calculated play in the chessboard of public influence?
Whatever the interpretation, one fact remains undeniable: Declan Royce has once again seized the nation’s attention. And in doing so, he has placed Charles Keaton — and his family — at the center of a cultural conversation that shows no signs of fading.
A Legacy in Paint
As the sun set in Los Angeles, dozens of people stood silently before the fresh mural on Main Street. Children pointed at the giant face. Parents whispered explanations. Passersby stopped to snap photos.
In that moment, beyond politics and criticism, the art itself spoke.
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The paint was still drying, but the message was already clear: a man’s image, a billionaire’s fortune, and a nation’s fractured soul, captured forever on concrete and brick.
