Fresh off the Eagles season-ending 37-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, the finger-pointing has begun. Howie Roseman is at the head of the table going into yet another crucial offseason, but does he still deserve to be?
In the end, it’s pretty easy where to point the blame on this horrific 4-10-1 season.
We can blame the players.
We can blame the coaches.
The General Manager who was given ultimate power in the organization, lost it, got it back, and now runs it like Don Corleone from the famed movie The Godfather.
The disaster of a 2020 season has given us a chance to realize that the success of the 2017 title season may have masked what has been a very mediocre GM.
Here are the ten worst moves Howie Roseman has made as GM for the Eagles.
10. Howie Roseman starts off strong…
Howie Roseman took over the GM job in 2010. He had built one of the youngest, and fastest rosters in the NFL at that time.
The 2010 Eagles won the NFC East behind the Comeback Player of the Year Award Winner, Michael Vick. Vick’s career resurgence was well documented and deserves all the credit for turning his life around after his dog-fighting scandal.
But entering the 2011 season, Vick was 31. While he clearly was back to being a highlight-reel player, he still had injury concerns, and the team had other pressing issues- particularly on the defensive side of the football.
Howie didn’t care.
Vick was given a six-year $100 million dollar contract that made him the face of the franchise.
The contract lasted just three years as Vick struggled to stay on the field and was gone after the 2013 season.
It was the first example of Howie turning a blind eye to his star players to give them as much money as possible.
It wouldn’t be the last.
9. Jalen Hurts Draft Pick
You better believe I put this on the list.
Fresh off of what was an incredible end of the year run with five practice squad players, Carson Wentz had proved just how good he could be as the leader of the franchise.
There were glaring holes along the defense, offensive line, and receivers that needed to be solved.
Howie’s response in free agency was to overpay for a DT, and trade for a 30-year-old corner.
He then thought the team was solidified enough to draft a QB within the first two rounds of the draft.
Six months later and it’s pretty obvious how much of a dumbster fire this has become.
It was Howie’s arrogance that brought in a QB controversy.
It was his arrogance that he “believed” he had fixed the roster holes before the draft.
It’s his arrogance that has left us in this mess.
8. DeSean Jackson returns to the Eagles
I will go down on the record saying this was a really good move.
Righting the wrong of the Chip Kelly-era, Howie brought back Jackson at the age of 32.
A three-year $28 million dollar deal followed and the expectation was that Jackson would be the deep threat Wentz desperately needed.
It started out like a dream.
Since then, it’s been a nightmare.
Jackson played in three games in 2019 and five games in 2020.
It’s safe to say that with a deal worth $10M per year, the team hasn’t gotten the return on investment.
Another case of Howie Roseman being too personal with his former players, and thinking with his heart instead of his head.
7. The Dream Team
Another easy one.
The 2011 Eagles saw the team spend heavy on high-price talent.
To sure up a terrible secondary, Roseman brought in the likes of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha.
The “Dream Team” moniker was coined thanks to the backup QB.
It quickly turned into a disaster.
An 8-8 season followed by a 4-12 year saw the end of the Andy Reid era.
Somehow Roseman was able to keep his job. Even with his “Dream Team” disaster clearly on his resume.
Continued on the page below.
