Bold? Yes. Foolish? Maybe. Genius? Sure. These are all questions that come to mind when thinking of how the Eagles’ GM has approached the structure of the Eagles’ rosters since 2016. After being shunned by Chip Kelly, Howie Roseman was let loose by Jeffery Lurie in hopes of being able to repair the damage left by Kelly.
He cleaned up the mess left by Kelly fairly quickly and started his plan of attack on how this roster would look. Back then it wasn’t about the competitive balance that is now as the Eagles desperately needed Savin. Roseman banked it all on Carson Wentz and it paid off big time in his sophomore season as the Eagles went on to win their first Super Bowl.
Unfortunately, that would be the high point of their time together as Wentz just couldn’t stay healthy since the 2017 season. After suffering three lost seasons due to injury after injury with Carson, Roseman had enough of his team missing out.
The Eagles rebuilding begins…
He approached his roster with a new plan that would benefit the franchise going forward. Now, no one understood the thought process but it has panned out in the Eagles’ favor ever since. Howie drafted QB Jalen Hurts in the second round of the 2020 draft as a security blanket for the QB position but also in hopes that the competition would help push Wentz back into his 2017 form.
Understandably, Carson didn’t like the thought of being challenged by another player in the same position. Howie Roseman was asked about this on Monday night and he held no punches.
Roseman answered, “At the end of the day, it’s the most important position in sports. You see it through the course of this season,” Roseman stated, he continued on and said, “You need depth in this league. Why wouldn’t you consider building depth at the most important position of all sports?”
It seemed that the question struck a nerve with Howie as he expressed his disappointment in what occurred. Roseman went on to state, “The league is a competitive league. If you’re worried… if you have players that are worried about competition…“ He shook his head and continued with his thought, “Look, you have to be really good to start in this league. If you’re worried we’re bringing in depth and talent, you’re probably not the right guy at that position.”
Lo and behold Howie was right. Three seasons later and the Eagles are better off than they once were. Jalen Hurts was an MVP candidate this season and he’s fought through a shoulder injury to help bring the Eagles to the Super Bowl.
After being mocked by an entire fanbase and even national media members, Howie Roseman now looks like the smartest GM in the league. He not only succeeded with his thought of building a competitive balance at the QB position but he went and applied it to nearly every other position on the roster.
From the drafting of Jordan Davis and how Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave have responded to the selection of Cam Jurgens with Jason Kelce still on the roster. You also have the same competitive structure at wideout between A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith and as well as the linebacker position with Nakobe Dean, Kyzir White, and TJ Edwards.
A competitive balance within the team has helped catapult the Eagles to the Super Bowl with the team having a top 5 offense and a top 5 defense. While the job is still not done, one can’t help but marvel at the brilliance of Howie Roseman.
AP Photo/Matt Slocum
