sports
Philadelphia — Ravens Vetted Jurgens Before Trade to Baltimore

The Baltimore Ravens dispatched two team doctors to the Philadelphia Eagles' practice facility on a Wednesday morning this past week to examine center Cam Jurgens before the two sides finalized a trade, according to league sources cited by ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The visit happened quietly, without most of the Eagles organization even noticing, as the Ravens and Eagles worked to close a deal sending Jurgens to Baltimore, ESPN reported. The arrangement reflects a shift in how teams handle medical vetting during trade talks this season, a change ESPN links directly to a failed physical that scuttled an earlier deal.
What Draft Picks Changed Hands?
The trade sends Jurgens and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Ravens, according to ESPN. In return, the Eagles receive a 2027 fifth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick, per the same report.
By the numbers
- 2: Ravens staffers sent to Philadelphia — the team's chief medical officer and head trainer, per ESPN.
- 2027: Draft year of the seventh-round pick going to Baltimore alongside Jurgens.
- 2028: Draft year of the second-round pick Philadelphia receives in the deal.
Who Conducted the Physical in Philadelphia?
ESPN's sources described the exam as deliberately low-profile, carried out in a corner of the Eagles' facility rather than through a formal, team-wide process. The Ravens' chief medical officer and head trainer handled the examination on-site before Baltimore and Philadelphia moved to complete the trade, according to the report.
Why Did Baltimore Insist on an On-Site Exam First?
ESPN's reporting ties the timing directly to the collapse of a trade for Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby earlier this offseason, when a physical reportedly derailed the deal. That outcome, per ESPN, is already shaping how front offices sequence trades this fall, with teams moving to verify a player's medical status before, rather than after, an agreement is struck. Schefter's report suggests the Jurgens physical may not be an isolated case, noting it "might just factor into additional NFL trades in the future."
What Role Did Jason Kelce Play in the Coverage?
ESPN's broadcast coverage of the trade included commentary from former Eagles center Jason Kelce, who addressed Jurgens' move back to center for Baltimore, according to the network's video accompanying Schefter's report. The segment underscores the positional shift at the heart of the deal: Jurgens, who played center in Philadelphia, moves into the same role for the Ravens.
What Should Fans Watch For Next?
- Whether other front offices adopt early, on-site physicals for in-season trades following the Crosby fallout and the Jurgens precedent, per ESPN's sourcing.
- How quickly Jurgens is inserted into Baltimore's starting lineup at center.
- Whether the 2027 and 2028 draft-pick compensation in this deal becomes a reference point for future interior-line trades.
- Additional reporting from ESPN on how the Eagles plan to fill the center spot vacated by Jurgens.
ESPN did not report a specific date for when Jurgens is expected to debut for Baltimore, and no additional team statements on the physical were included in the network's account.
Questions
What did the Ravens trade for Cam Jurgens?
The Ravens sent the Eagles a 2027 fifth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick to acquire Jurgens and a 2027 seventh-round pick, according to ESPN.
Why did the Ravens hold a physical at the Eagles' facility?
ESPN reported the early, on-site physical followed the collapse of a trade for Maxx Crosby this offseason, prompting teams to verify medical status before finalizing deals.