Philadelphia Eagles Last Three Drafts Earn Passing Grades for GM Howie Roseman

Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman earned an A+ for one of his last three last drafts but a C- for another. Here's more:

Aug 17, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman / Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

The first-round pick gets all the attention because, well, it’s the first player a team will take as the NFL draft opens. The first round also gets its very own night, usually on the final Thursday of April, before the second and third rounds commence the following day followed by rounds four through seven on Saturday.

The Philadelphia Eagles have two picks in the second round – Nos. 50 and 53 overall. Those picks are just as important if perhaps not more so than their 22nd overall selection.

After that, they have five third-day picks beginning in the fourth round with No 120 overall. There are three in the fifth round (Nos. 161, 171, 172), and one in the sixth round (No. 210). No need to memorize these because general manager Howie Roseman will no doubt be up to his wheeling and dealing self.

In each of the previous three drafts, the Eagles have taken more players on the defensive side than on offense.

Here are those last three classes with grades. Keep in mind that it typically takes three years to evaluate a class properly, so only the 2021 draft has a final grade. The other two drafts are graded but are eligible to be re-evaluated over the next two years as more is learned.

Dec 3, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles guard Landon Dickerson (69) / Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

2021: Six of their nine picks were on defense – Milton Williams, Zech McPhearson, Marlon Tuipulotu, Tarron Jackson, JaCoby Stevens, and Patrick Johnson. The three on offense were DeVonta Smith, Landon Dickerson, and Kenny Gainwell.

Comment: Smith and Dickerson, taken in the first and second rounds, respectively, were identified as key foundation pieces for the Eagles’ future and given contract extensions that will keep both in Philly through 2028. That alone makes this draft a home run.

Only Stevens was a bust, but he was taken in the sixth round (No. 224 overall), so no harsh marks there.

Milton Williams came in the third round and is a key reserve who could end up starting at defensive tackle this year with Fletcher Cox retired. He could be next in line for an extension.

Gainwell has been a key contributor when called on and has produced 895 yards in three seasons with 11 rushing touchdowns. He has added 605 receiving yards on 86 catches with another TD. Maybe he gets an extension.

Jackson had plenty of opportunities as a rookie, notching a sack, but has since been relegated to the practice squad while Johnson showed some promise in his first two seasons but fell off the radar last year with Sean Desai as the defensive coordinator.

Perhaps DC Vic Fangio will find more of a role for him this year.

Grade: A+

2022: The Eagles had just five picks in this one and three went to the defense – Jordan Davis, Nakobe Dean, and Kyron Johnson. Cam Jurgens and Grant Calcaterra came on offense.

Comment: Davis is still figuring it out. He showed flashes last year but has yet to develop into a reliable pass rusher from his defensive tackle spot. He had 2.5 sacks last season but none over the final 10 weeks of the season. He has to be better and maybe with a new defensive line coach in Clint Hurtt, he will be.

Dean couldn’t say healthy last year, making it to just five games, and as a rookie was stuck behind the excellent duo of T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White. When he fell to the third round, he looked to be a steal, but the jury is out – way out – on that so far.

Johnson was primarily a special teamer after coming in the sixth round (No. 181), and a pretty good one, but after just 22 games in two seasons, he is already on his second team – the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Calcaterra was the final pick for the Eagles in this draft (No. 198), and he could still develop into a solid backup. So far, that hasn’t happened, and Philly keeps trying to find other tight ends who can be better, with C.J. Uzomah the latest one to be brought in to try to keep Calcaterra as a deep reserve or off the roster all together.

Grade: C-

2023: Armed with a pair of first-round picks last year, the Eagles went defensive line with both, and the defensive theme didn’t stop with five of their seven picks coming on that side of the ball – Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Sydney Brown, Kelee Ringo, and Moro Ojomo. The offense was bolstered slightly with the additions of Tyler Steen and Tanner McKee.

Comment: Starting on the offense, Steen could be ticketed for a reserve role this year, perhaps as a swing tackle/guard, after making only start as a rookie. McKee is a developmental quarterback who came in the sixth round (No. 188) and, while he played well in the preseason, the Eagles brought in former first-round pick Kenny Pickett in a trade with the Steelers.

On defense, Brown looks like he will be a solid player for years to come but is that good enough after taking him in the third round, with the very next pick after the Eagles took Steen at No. 65?

Brown had one of the more electric plays of the 2023 season with a 99-yard interception return in Week 16 against the Arizona Cardinals, so there is that to build on as soon as the ACL he tore in the season finale last year heals.

The plum of the class is Carter, and he looked like a star in the making before running out of steam a bit to finish second in the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. Get in better condition, stay on the straight and narrow and he will make a few All-Pro teams before he is done.

Smith remains a question mark and needs a big Year 2 to bring my grade up, Ringo could be starting before the end of the season, depending on how James Bradberry recovers, or at the start of the season should the Eagles move on from Bradberry, and Ojomo should get more snaps with Cox retired.

Grade: B-

NOTES: The Eagles could be headed for another defensive-heavy draft…To recap, they have spent 14 of their last 21 picks on defense in the last three drafts.