Eagles' Rowe-to-Pats deal nearly done

Update: The trade was indeed announced Wednesday morning, and it is just for the draft pick.

The Eagles are expected to complete the trade of cornerback Eric Rowe to the New England Patriots on Wednesday, a good 24 hours or more after the first reports surfaced.

At first, the Eagles were going to get guard Josh Kline and a fourth-round draft pick in 2018 that could become a third-rounder, depending on how Rowe fared in New England. Then league sources said Kline would be flipped for something else, from another team.

But no trade was announced, even though Patriots coach Bill Belichick confirmed it on a weekly radio appearance in New England.

"I have a lot of respect for Josh," Belichick said. "He came in here as an undrafted player (in 2013). Spent a little bit of time on the practice squad. Worked hard to make the team. Has played for us. We've won with him.

"We felt like Rowe would give us some depth in the secondary. He's a young player, in his second year. We'll see where that goes."

Still, though, there was no trade announcement from the Eagles, and a source close to the situation said Tuesday evening no paperwork had been submitted to the league. Another league source said that when the trade does get finalized, Kline will not be involved at all. The source said he could end up being released by the Pats.

Kline has had a shoulder injury, but that apparently did not factor in him being taken out of the trade.

Apparently, the Eagles are trading Rowe either for the pick they originally were getting, or that and something more. As of Tuesday night, no other teams were involved, sources said.

Rowe was the team's second-round draft choice in 2015, the lone year Chip Kelly held the reins. He started the last five games, after Nolan Carroll went down, and improved steadily. By the end of the season, Rowe looked like the Eagles' best corner draftee since Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown back in 2002.

But when Doug Pederson replaced Kelly, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's 4-3 scheme replaced Bill Davis' 3-4. What the Eagles wanted from their corners also changed. Rowe, the new regime felt, was good at going straight downfield and at playing zone, not good in changing direction in the "man" coverage Schwartz preferred.

As training camp and the preseason progressed, Rowe's confidence seemed to wane. He was never in serious contention for a starting job. But New England does a great job with maximizing strengths, and at 6-1, 205, with aggressiveness and strength, Rowe has tools the Pats can work with.

Eagles de facto general manager Howie Roseman is scavenging draft picks wherever he can, to add to the talent base around quarterback Carson Wentz over the next few years. Rowe's departure might bring undrafted rookie corner C.J. Smith, Wentz's North Dakota State teammate, up from the practice squad.

@LesBowen

Blog: philly.com/Eaglesblog