We’re a month from the draft, and whereas nobody is aware of for positive who the Eagles will draft, and even the place they are going to draft as a result of you may by no means rule out a commerce, we do know a couple of issues. We all know that for those who simply blindly assume that Howie Roseman will draft an offensive or defensive lineman within the 1st spherical in any draft, you’ll look fairly good.
8 of the 11 1st spherical picks Howie Roseman has made have been both an offensive sort out (Lane Johnson, Andre Dillard), defensive sort out (Fletcher Cox, Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter), or edge rusher (Marcus Smith, Derek Barnett, Nolan Smith).
So after all almost everybody simply assumes they’re stepping into a special route.
Cornered
A particularly widespread selection in mock drafts has been cornerback, and for good purpose. However the Eagles beneath Howie Roseman not solely don’t draft CBs excessive, they actually don’t draft them excessive. Listed below are the primary CB drafted, if in any respect, with Howie Roseman in cost, and their draft choose:
2023 Kelee Ringo 105
2021 Zech McPhearson 123
2018 Avonte Maddox 125
2017 Sidney Jones 43
2016 Blake Countess 196
2013 Jordan Poyer 218
2012 Brandon Boykin 123
Sidney Jones and Rasul Douglas, within the third additionally in 2017, are the one cornerbacks drafted earlier than the 4th spherical beneath Howie Roseman. He’s spent simply as many Day Two picks in trades for veterans: a third within the commerce for Ronald Darby, and a third and fifth for Darius Slay.
So it could appear to go in opposition to the grain for the Eagles to draft a CB excessive in any yr. Nevertheless in 2021 the workforce was reportedly extraordinarily excessive on Jaycee Horn, who was taken 4 picks earlier than the Eagles have been on the clock. And the workforce has met with Cooper DeJean in one in all their 30 visits, and with Terrion Arnold and Kool-Help McKinstry, and Ennis Rakestraw and Kris Abrams-Draine at their professional days. So it is probably not completely out of character on this considerably out of character offseason.
Persistence is a advantage
Since Roseman’s return in 2016, when the Eagles have drafted a lineman on both aspect of the ball, in any spherical, it’s been with the intention to have them both begin the season as a backup or rotational participant.
Derek Barnett was fourth in DE snaps performed in his rookie yr, behind starters Brandon Graham and Vinny Curry, and backup Chris Lengthy. Andre Dillard was by no means going to begin forward of Jason Peters. Jordan Davis didn’t make his first begin till Week 3, and his season excessive utilization his rookie season was simply 42% of snaps. Jalen Carter began only one recreation and performed a majority of snaps simply 7 instances final yr. Nolan Smith was by no means going to begin forward of Haason Reddick or Josh Sweat or play forward of Brandon Graham.
It’s no completely different for 2nd spherical picks. Sidney Jones spent his rookie season recovering from damage, showing in only one recreation. It wasn’t till Week 13 that Dallas Goedert performed a majority of snaps in again to again begins. Miles Sanders rotated with Jordan Howard till Howard received damage within the second half of the season. JJ Arcega-Whiteside was behind Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, and DeSean Jackson. Jalen Hurts was by no means going to win the beginning job Week 1. Landon Dickerson started the season as Isaac Seumalo’s backup. Cam Jurgens performed 35 complete snaps.
Neglect the positions, since 2016, the Eagles have had 15 1st or 2nd spherical picks. Simply three of them began Week 1: Carson Wentz, Jalen Reagor, and Devonta Smith. So the concept that the Eagles, who will or ought to have competitions at cornerback, proper guard, and linebacker, may draft plug and play gamers at these positions is just not consistent with Howie Roseman’s draft historical past.
The Haaason Reddick commerce put the opportunity of the Eagles drafting an edge rusher to the forefront of their draft wants, however the want was at all times there: Josh Sweat is on the ultimate yr of his contract and Brandon Graham will retire after the season. The workforce has simply two gamers on the place beneath contract for 2025: Nolan Smith and Bryce Huff. Drafting one who will probably begin the season fourth on the depth chart can be fully in line with how the Eagles function.
Take A Stroll
With baseball beginning this weekend and Haason Reddick being traded, I’m reminded of among the best passages in one in all my favourite books.
In Ball 4, the e-book that’s the diary of Jim Bouton’s 1969 season, Bouton writes concerning the expertise of getting traded after he’s acquired by the Astros for money and “the” Dooley Womack, a former teammate who options in an anecdote early within the e-book. Upon being dealt, Bouton wrote that after discovering out the place you might be being traded to, the following factor you wished to know was who you have been traded for. “You want to listen to an enormous identify on the opposite finish. It’s good on your morale.” The Dooley Womack was not. “I hope there was a number of undisclosed money concerned. I hope 100 thousand, not less than. Possibly it’s me for 100 thousand and Dooley Womack is only a throw in. I’d hate to suppose at this stage of my profession I used to be being traded even up for Dooley Womack.”
Haason Reddick was traded to the Jets. Within the 4 o’clock hour Friday information dump. For a 2026 choose. Whereas a number of followers have been watching the Phillies opening day. That’s a particular stage of disrespect.
