HOWIE'S GAME
NFL Draft: The Eagles, even as contenders, are planning ahead in possible draft choices
Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/mpd4nk7e
PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles are built to win now, which makes their draft philosophy all the more interesting.
Even with an experienced roster, they’re one of the younger teams in the league, particularly on defense. And defense is where most of their current needs are.
But general manager Howie Roseman still approaches the draft with a longer view — trusting his board, prioritizing premium positions and often drafting for what the team might need two or three years down the road.
That tension is what makes Roseman’s draft philosophy worth studying. Even with a roster capable of contending, the GM rarely talks about the draft like a one-weekend repair job. He talks about tiers, value and projection — about what a player might become, not just what hole he might fill in September.
“I think the biggest mistake we can make is assuming we know what the team’s going to look like a year from now, two years from now and missing out on a player because we have a perceived need,” Roseman said.
That is the theory. The Eagles’ recent draft history offers the fuller picture.
Roseman does not ignore need so much as filter it through a broader lens. He has repeatedly invested in premium positions, especially along the lines and in the secondary, while also planning a step ahead. The Eagles drafted Cam Jurgens in 2022 while Jason Kelce was still in place. Two years ago, they doubled up in the defensive backfield with Quinyon Mitchell in the first round and Cooper DeJean in the second, giving the defense a younger, faster backbone.
In other words, the Eagles don’t draft like a team chasing one last run. They draft like a contender trying to keep its window open.
Roseman said projection is central to that.
“A lot of times in the draft we’ll talk about what could this player be in year three,” he said. “To come in and expect 21-, 22-, 23-year-old players to be the best version of themselves — it’s probably a little naive.”
Nick Sirianni sees the other side of that equation. Once the Eagles make the pick, the burden shifts to the coaches.
“Our job is to develop them, put them in the right positions to succeed, help them get better fundamentally, help them learn the game better,” Sirianni said.
He also made clear what the Eagles are hunting for before the card is turned in.
“A guy that loves football, a guy who is tough and a guy who has a high football IQ — God willing, he’s going to reach his ceiling,” Sirianni said.
That combined philosophy frames the Eagles’ approach entering Thursday night, when they hold the No. 23 overall pick in the NFL draft (and seven other picks in rounds two through six on Friday and Saturday).
Even with Roseman’s best-player-available mindset, four positions stand out as the most logical places to look.
Edge rusher
This remains classic Eagles territory. Roseman has long treated pass rush as a premium investment, and the roster always seems to have room for one more disruptive front-seven piece. That is especially true for a team that prefers to roll waves of defensive linemen rather than lean too heavily on one or two stars.
Among the top edge prospects in this class are Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, Texas Tech’s David Bailey, Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. and Miami’s Akheem Mesidor.
Auburn’s Keldric Faulk and Clemson’s T.J. Parker are also highly regarded. Some of those names will be gone well before No. 23, but the position’s depth should keep edge in play for Philadelphia.
Right tackle
Lane Johnson, who turns 36 next month, is still playing at a high level when healthy, but the Eagles have shown before that they would rather draft a successor a year early than a year late.
Roseman all but said as much when discussing how the team has handled succession plans up front.
“It’s so hard to find elite players at any position that you certainly wouldn’t want to turn down the opportunity at an important position,” he said.
This year’s tackle class gives the Eagles options if they want to think ahead. Miami’s Francis Mauigoa, Utah’s Spencer Fano, Georgia’s Monroe Freeling and Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor headline the group.
Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor and Clemson’s Blake Miller are also among the better tackle prospects. If Roseman wants a player who could learn behind Johnson before eventually taking the job, this draft offers that sort of pathway.
Cornerback
The second outside corner spot remains an issue — dating back to last summer. The recent signings of Riq Woolen and Jonathan Jones don’t necessarily solve the problem. And corner remains one of the league’s hardest spots to fill (especially for a decent price).
This year’s class is strong at the top. LSU’s Mansoor Delane, Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy, San Diego State’s Chris Johnson and Tennessee’s Colton Hood are among the highest ranked corners.
Clemson’s Avieon Terrell and South Carolina’s Brandon Cisse are also part of a deep group, with Washington’s Tacario Davis and Ohio State’s Davison Igbinosun among the other notable names.
Safety
Safety is a clear need after letting Reed Blankenship walk. The team re-signed Marcus Epps as insurance and hopes Andrew Mukuba will return from injury and develop, but Roseman acknowledged the position is unsettled.
“When we go to camp, we’re definitely not full at the safety position,” he said. “We’ll add players there just like we’ll add players at other positions.”
That makes this one of the more direct matches between Roseman’s public comments and the roster. If the Eagles attack the spot early or in the middle rounds, there will be no mystery why.
Ohio State’s Caleb Downs is widely viewed as the best safety in the class and one of the premier defenders in the draft. Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman and Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren also sit near the top of the group.
After that come players such as Pitt’s Kyle Louis, LSU’s A.J. Haulcy, Penn State’s Zakee Wheatley and USC’s Kamari Ramsey. It is a position with both top-end talent and useful depth.
A.J. Brown is likely gone
It isn’t news that A.J. Brown will probably be traded after June 1 (most likely to the New England Patriots). Waiting until June cuts the Eagles’ cap hit by $10 million. National insiders expect a future first-round pick to be included in return.
When Roseman was asked directly, again, about Brown’s future here, his response last week was telling:
“What do you think the odds are that I’m answering this question any differently than I’ve answered anywhere else?” he said. “Like, really? Do you think that’s 50 percent? Do you think that’s 75 percent? … A.J. Brown is an Eagle.”
Would Roseman answer the same way about Jalen Hurts or Saquon Barkley?
The Eagles may draft a receiver, but it would be surprising if they spend a high pick on one unless a prospect they highly value falls within reach. They’ve already added Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore and Dontayvion Wicks this offseason to position themselves for an A.J. Brown departure.
Plus they have DeVonta Smith and they re-signed receiving tight end Dallas Goedert to another year. Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq would make an immediate impact this season and replace Goedert in the future, but he may be scooped up before the Eagles get a chance to draft him.
The QB question
The Eagles don’t need a quarterback. Hurts is their starter, their leader and the face of the offense.
But because this is Roseman, the question never fully dies.
His history says not to dismiss the possibility out of hand. The clearest example, of course, came in 2020, when the Eagles drafted Hurts in the second round while Carson Wentz was the entrenched starter. Roseman has spent years arguing that strong depth charts should not keep a team from taking a player it truly believes in.
“If there’s a player available at a position that we’re strong at right now and we think he’s going to be an elite player in the NFL, we’re going to take that player,” Roseman said.
That does not make drafting a quarterback likely. It just makes it very Howie.
Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X and Threads at @the_defranc.