Eagles GM Howie Roseman plays chess while others play checkers

Jan 29, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman after win against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman after win against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman continues to play chess while many other general managers are stuck at checkers. Roseman completely dominated the 2023 NFL Draft as he did in 2022. This time around it seems that other general managers are tired of Roseman’s public success.

The praise is well deserved. The best player in the draft, Georgia DT Jalen Carter, fell past the Atlanta Falcons at #8 and Roseman quickly traded up with the Chicago Bears in order to secure Carter. There were seven other teams that had the opportunity to draft Carter but passed on the controversial athlete. Roseman wasn’t nearly done and also selected Georgia DE/OLB Nolan Smith with the 30th pick overall.

Roseman found value picks in offensive lineman Tyler Steen in the second round and scooped up another Georgia Bulldog, Kelee Ringo, in the fourth round. Ringo was projected to go in the second or third round of the draft. Roseman identified the slide and traded up to take the cornerback before anyone was any wiser. Roseman still was not done with his campaign and traded a fourth and seventh-round pick to the Detroit Lions in exchange for former second-round pick running back D’Andre Swift.

The “only drafting Georgia” players joke is amusing but you can’t argue the recent success Roseman has found with drafting players from Athens. The Georgia defense for the last two seasons has been one of the best collegiate defenses we have seen in the last decade. The players coming from that program, similar to the tradition of the Alabama Crimson Tide, are winners and compete with the best. Bringing college players to the professional league that already have experience against elite competition and have that hunger for additional victories is just good business.

Roseman already brought one Super Bowl to Philadelphia and since that victory, his reputation faltered slightly with several questionable picks. While many on the outside believed that Roseman’s job was in jeopardy he has accomplished quite a bit in the last two seasons leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft;

  • 23-11 record
  • 2 trips to the playoffs
  • Trip to the Super Bowl in 2022 (35-38 loss)
  • Found and signed an extension to their quarterback of the future (Jalen Hurts)
  • Won Executive of the Year in 2022

Normally when a general manager amasses a “Super Bowl team” whether they win or lose they usually have to play catch up and end up trying to recover from huge cash/salary cap expenses. Howie Roseman, similar to Chiefs general manager and wunderkind Brett Veach, has been able to keep a competitive unit on the field. Not only has Roseman been able to keep a competitive Eagles team on the field but he appears to be continuing to build up his squad through the draft and free agency.

The 2023 season will be a huge test for Roseman and what appears to be another dominant Eagles team. And for those that continue to express jealousy at Roseman’s recent success, this tweet sums up a response for those that continue to chatter.