A new war room video shows Philadelphia’s side of the first-round trade with Kansas City.
Before the Kansas City Chiefs made their marquee selection of the 2025 NFL Draft — taking Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons in the first round — general manager Brett Veach made a deal with Philadelphia Eagles’ GM Howie Roseman, giving up Kansas City’s 31st pick in exchange for Philadelphia’s 32nd selection and the 164th pick from the fifth round.
Later that night, we heard Veach’s side of the story. Now, however, we have more insight about the trade from a behind-the-scenes video taken inside the Eagles’ war room.
It confirms that as early as the 22nd pick, Roseman was trying to trade up to acquire Philadelphia’s first-round target: Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell, whom Arrowhead Pride’s consensus draft prospect rankings had identified as the draft’s top linebacker and 19th overall player.
In the video, we see Roseman talking with Los Angeles Chargers GM Joe Hortiz, who wants (at least) the 32nd and 64th picks in exchange for No. 22.
“You’re not going into a trade hoping that you just beat someone on the trade,” says Roseman in a narration as he and Philadelphia CEO Jeffrey Lurie discuss making the deal with Los Angeles. “You’re trying to get value, and to do things that are right for your team and your organization — and hopefully, the other team is feeling the same way. It’s got to be [a fit]. It’s got to be fits for both sides.”
Philadelphia moves on. Roseman calls Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekust, who holds the 23rd selection. Roseman reports to Lurie that the Eagles’ offer (which isn’t disclosed in the video) is “too light” to suit Green Bay.
The Houston Texans’ Nick Caserio tells Roseman there’s “something better” on the table for the 25th pick — which eventually turns out to be the 34th and 99th picks (and a third-rounder in 2026) from the New York Giants.
Going after the 27th selection, Roseman doesn’t even get as far as making an offer to the Baltimore Ravens GM Eric DeCosta.
Then, another team puts him on hold, forcing him to listen to computer-generated on-hold music while the clock is ticking. He puts the call on the speakerphone. After taking it in for a moment, Eagles head coach Nick Siriani laughs.
“It’s maddening,” he says.
Then another unidentified team says they have a better offer for their pick.
“Nobody wants to trade down,” notes Lurie.
“Everyone’s saying they are trading down,” replies Roseman, “but nobody is trading down. I don’t know what to tell you, Jeffrey. I’m trying. I’m trying. I’m trying. And I’m trying.”
The Philadelphia staff learns that the Atlanta Falcons have gave up the 46th and 242nd pick (plus their 2026 first-rounder) to get the 26th and 101st selections from the Los Angeles Rams. Roseman takes it in stride.
“I understand why people aren’t taking our deals,” he marvels.
Then he reaches out to Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes, who is sitting at No. 28.
“Any interest in — oh, I’m doing good,” he says to Holmes. “Any interest in trading back?”
A few moments pass.
“I appreciate your honesty,” he says, hanging up.
Lurie offers that he doesn’t feel good about the chance to make a deal with the Washington Commanders, whose GM Adam Peters holds the 29th selection. But Roseman calls anyway.
“He said there’s an in-division tax,” Roseman tells Lurie as he hangs up the phone — and then grins. “He really didn’t want to do a trade with me.”
Reaching the end of the line, Roseman calls Buffalo. He learns that Brandon Beane intends to take Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston with the 30th selection.
And with that… the stage is set. The Eagles undoubtedly know that except for Simmons, all the other players the Chiefs might have been considering at No. 31 are off the board. But they also know that the only thing left standing between them and Campbell — who is arguably the best defensive player still available — is another team making a deal with Kansas City.
It’s time to call Veach.
“I’m doing to do to Veach what he did to me,” vows Roseman.
“I thought of that,” replied Lurie. “And I thought they might take [Josh] Conerly — [but] he’s off the board.”
With Veach on the phone, Roseman offers him the 168th selection to trade places with the Chiefs. His old friend asks for time — and they hang up.
“We may have just given them a free pick,” admits Roseman. “But they’re taking calls, they said.”
Roseman turns to his staff, clapping his hands.
“Here we go, room!” he exclaims. “Let’s get a little energy! One more!”
Then the Chiefs call back.
“168,” says Roseman. “The last one [of the round], obviously… I’m giving you a free pick. You can do whatever you want after it. I’m not trading it, so if you want to trade it, you can. [And] I’m telling you what side I’m picking.”
Then Roseman temporizes — and gives up a little ground.
“I don’t know, Veach. I don’t know. I don’t know…. This is our first trade… I’m going defense… I’ll go 164.”
And with that, both sides got what they wanted: one of the draft’s best players.
None of this contradicts what Veach told reporters later that night. But it seems that Kansas City’s general manager understood how desperate Philadelphia had become to land Campbell. Perhaps Veach had learned from other GMs that Roseman had called one team after another, trying to trade up.
We still don’t know if another team was trying to make a deal with the Chiefs for No. 31 — although it’s worth noting that the Cleveland Browns took UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger with the 34th pick. Perhaps they would have preferred Campbell — and maybe Roseman knew that.
But whether there was another team or not, we know that Veach said there was — and Roseman had no choice but to take his word for it.
So now you’ll be able to tell your grandchildren about that time back in 2025… when the Chiefs got a fifth-round draft pick just for swapping No. 31 for No. 32.