Eagles Release Former First-Round Pick Kenyon Green
Just five months after the Eagles thought they were getting a steal by trading safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to Houston for Green and a fifth-round pick, they’ve shown him the door faster than a bouncer at last call. The former Texas A&M standout, who was supposed to compete for a backup guard spot, apparently couldn’t even manage that modest goal.
The Green Experiment: A Short-Lived Romance
Let’s be brutally honest here. This whole Kenyon Green saga reads like a bad dating story. The Eagles saw potential, made the move, gave it their best shot, and then realized they’d rather be alone than settle for mediocrity. Green was the 15th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, which means Houston saw something special in him. Or at least they thought they did.
Three years later, after 27 career games and a Pro Football Focus grade that would make a high school coach cringe (38.6 in 2024). The Eagles aren’t exactly hurting for offensive line talent either. When you’ve got a starting five featuring Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, and Lane Johnson, you’re not exactly scraping the bottom of the barrel for protection.
Why the Eagles Made the Right Call
Here’s where things get interesting, and frankly, a little sad for Green. The guy missed most of the 2023 season with a shoulder injury and was never the same. Just this past Sunday, they made three trades, including acquiring Fred Johnson from Jacksonville and shipping Darian Kinnard off to Green Bay. When a team is making that many moves on the offensive line, it usually means they’re not thrilled with what they’ve got.
The Reality of NFL Draft Busts
Let’s call this what it is. Green is shaping up to be another first-round bust. It happens more often than teams want to admit, but at least the Eagles recognized it early enough to cut their losses. Houston, on the other hand, spent three years trying to make this square peg fit into a round hole. When the Eagles traded for him, they probably thought they could coach him up, maybe find some hidden potential that Houston had missed, but it never came to be.
What This Means for Green’s Future
Now Green finds himself in NFL purgatory. Waived by two teams in less than a year. That’s not exactly the kind of résumé that has general managers lining up to make offers. Sure, he’s got the size and some raw talent, but at this point, his ceiling seems to be “practice squad contributor” rather than “starting NFL lineman.”
The sarcastic part of me wonders if Green will end up on someone’s practice squad, where he can continue to develop his skills while teams pretend they see potential. The realistic part of me thinks his NFL days might be numbered unless he makes some serious changes to his approach and performance.
Final Thoughts
The harsh reality is that the Eagles made the right decision, even if it stings for Green personally. Professional sports don’t reward potential. They reward production. And after three years in the league, Green has shown precious little of the latter. His future looks bleak in the NFL.
