Birds want picks to play well, do the right thing and retire with the franchise
PHILADELPHIA » Howie Roseman wants Eagles draft prospects to take a lesson out of the recent retirements of franchise stalwarts Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox.
The Eagles general manager wants potential Eagles to see DeVonta Smith, Landon Dickerson and Brandon Graham continue to earn contract extensions and big money years after they’re drafted by the team.
The lesson in both instances?
“It’s a great success story for us to be able to draft guys and sign them to extensions,” Roseman said. “I think it’s a great message to our team that if you come here and do the right thing, you don’t have to leave. Unfortunately we’ve lost two players, two of the greatest Eagles in the history of our franchise who retired, but they played with one franchise.
“I think that’s legacy. To be able to have players that are able to do that, when other players see that, I think that’s a big part of building culture.”
And building a steady winner.
Roseman and the scouts have hit more often than they have missed in recent drafts — one reason the Eagles went to the Super Bowl in the 2022 season and followed with a 10-1 start last season before a late-season meltdown.
Jalen Hurts is already an all-time franchise steal, the second-round QB picked at No. 53 overall in 2020. Smith, who signed an extension with $51 million in guaranteed money this week, is still a 2021 firstround bargain. Jordan Mailata went from an Australian ruby player to a seventh-round pick in 2018 to one of the best left tackles in the NFL. Defensive tackle Jalen Carter was the No. 9 pick last season and finished second in the voting for 2023 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The Eagles expect to hit often when the draft begins April 25. The Eagles hold the 22nd pick in the first round and the 50th and 53rd overall picks in the second round. They have five other draft picks — for now. Roseman loves to trade picks and he has the depth needed to pull off more draft-night maneuvering for, well, future draft picks.