In 2016, Howie Roseman took charge of the Eagles fate after the firing of their former head Head coach, Chip Kelly. Roseman was not only on a mission to establish himself as a top executive but to rid the fingerprints that Kelly left on the franchise.
He started by getting rid of players like DeMarco Murray, Byron Maxwell, and Kiko Alonso – all to acquire ammunition for the draft. The picture was beginning to make sense as the Eagles were in desperate need for a franchise QB. He followed these moves by trading Mark Sanchez to Broncos for a 7th round pick.
Next was the big move before the draft. On April 20th, Roseman traded the 8th overall pick, a 2016 3rd round pick, 2016 4th round pick, 2017 1st round pick, and a 2018 2nd round pick to the Browns in exchange for the 2nd overall pick in the 2016 draft and a 2017 4th round pick.
All of this, every calculated move, was to ensure that they would get their man in North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz. A decision that has resulted in the team’s first-ever Lombardi trophy and three back-to-back playoff appearances.
Let’s fast forward to now.m The main theme of the draft is wide receiver for the Eagles and with everything that’s going on in the world, all eyes in Philadelphia are fixed on the Eagles. Roseman is in a position where he can finally do something that hasn’t been done in years – find a number one receiver to fit their franchise QB. The options are all on the table in the first round between Ruggs, Lamb, Jeudy, and Jefferson, but there can be only one who joins the flock.
The talk of the offseason has been speed, just as theme of the 2016 offseason was getting the right QB. The Eagles haven’t made any move yet showing that they’re trading up unlike in 2016, but the keyword is ‘yet’. The draft is only three days away and the pressure is building up with rumors floating around teams that want to possibly move up for one of the big four.
Roseman has never been the type of GM to show his hand early in the game but it doesn’t help that his hand is being forced right now. No matter what many folks will say about this years’ wide receiver class, the fact of the matter is that there is a significant drop off from the big 3 to the next tier. Lamb, Jeudy, and Ruggs are all game-changers but only one of them has the theme that’s been haunting the Eagles for years, speed.
Only time will tell if Howie makes the move to help his franchise QB propel to the next level or if he misses on what has been declared as a deep draft at another position of need. History hasn’t been on his side as of late but let history also show that what Howie wants, Howie gets.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
