Howie Roseman did it again. The Philadelphia Eagles were aggressive as usual, and with a flurry of trades and player selections, they were the biggest winners of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Howie Roseman and the Eagles are the Biggest Winners of the 2024 NFL Draft
Making History With Trades
Howie Roseman has been one of the most aggressive general managers in the NFL. From drafting Jalen Hurts when the team had Carson Wentz and Nick Foles in the building, to trading for A.J. Brown in 2022, Roseman has been unafraid to be bold during draft season. Heading into the 2024 NFL Draft, Philadelphia had seven picks. They turned those picks into six players in the draft and then came away with three future picks. Those future picks are for 2025, giving Roseman even more flexibility next off-season to acquire more players.
Roseman and the Eagles made history by making eight trades over three days, which helped them be the biggest winner of the NFL Draft. This is nothing new for the team, as Philadelphia has been consistently aggressive on draft night. The Eagles recently lost Fletcher Cox and Jason Kelce to retirement, making it imperative for the team to have a strong draft. In recognizing weaknesses on the roster, Roseman was proactive by adding young talent through the draft. On defense, Philadelphia bolstered the secondary with two potential starters.
The Draft Picks
Quinyon Mitchell came into the draft as one of the top cornerbacks in the class. His tape at Toledo shows a cornerback who can play both man and zone coverage well. Mitchell is aggressive at the point of attack and comes into the league with a reputation as a physical corner. Learning under James Bradberry and Darius Slay will give Mitchell a leg up on his development. The scheme fit makes sense for Philadelphia and Mitchell, and the Eagles got him with good value in the first round.
With Cooper DeJean sliding, Roseman moved up in an aggressive move for the Iowa star. The team needs help in the secondary, even after resigning Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. With DeJean, the Eagles get a versatile defender who can occupy multiple positions in the secondary. Learning under Gardner-Johnson will also benefit DeJean as the two have similar skill sets. Even if DeJean does not see the field right away on defense, he’s an impactful player on special teams and can be valuable as a returner. As it stands, though, both players in the secondary are projected starters.
A Familiar Name and Scheme Fit
Even casual Eagles fans know the name Jeremiah Trotter. His son Jeremiah Trotter Jr. entered the draft as a name to watch for the Eagles, given their connection to the Trotter family. Roseman saw Trotter Jr. falling in the fifth round and traded up to grab the former Clemson star. While Trotter Jr. might not play right away in Philadelphia, he gives the defense depth and a player with starting potential. After losing Nakobe Dean to injury last season, the Eagles came into the draft with a need at linebacker. Dean has only started four games in his professional career, leaving the door open for Trotter Jr. to be a fixture on the defense.
Add in the selection of Will Shipley in the fourth round, and the Eagles look to have won the NFL Draft. It came from being aggressive but also understanding the value of the board. Now the Eagles are set up for the future and positioned to return to the top of the NFC in 2024.
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