https://www.delawareonline.com/story/sports/nfl/eagles/2025/04/15/eagles-nfl-draft-takeaway-howie-roseman-trade-strategy-biggest-test-first-round/83088714007/

Eagles draft takeaways: Did Howie Roseman reveal trade plan? His biggest challenge at No. 32

Martin Frank

Delaware News Journal

PHILADELPHIA − The Eagles' annual pre-draft press conference with general manager Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni wasn't much different from the past.

That is, reporters tried asking every which way what the Eagles' plans are, while Roseman, and to some extent, Sirianni give vague responses that didn't actually answer the question.

But there were hints as to which way the Eagles might be leaning.

The Eagles are picking 32nd and last in the first round of the draft that runs from April 24-26. That's the welcomed consequence of winning the Super Bowl. Roseman, obviously, wouldn't say who the Eagles are targeting, let alone what position.

But when Roseman was asked on April 15 if he has 32 players with first-round grades, he responded: "There are never 32 first-round grades on our board. We don't have 32 first-round grades in this draft, so obviously, it depends on how things go."

We also know that Roseman loves to trade during the draft. Last year alone, Roseman made eight trades. So you can infer from his above statement that if the Eagles see a player they really want, they will likely have to trade up for him.

Then again ... "With that also comes risks," Roseman said. "All of those moves don’t always work out. It’s probably more conservative to stand pat … and kind of see what comes to you.

"For me, I think that being aggressive has always been part of my DNA. … It allows us to take chances and be aggressive."

That, then, is the first of five takeaways from Roseman and Sirianni's pre-draft press conference:

Can the Eagles find a star player at No. 32?

The Eagles have been in this situation of picking at or near the end of the first round twice before since Roseman re-assumed control of personnel decisions in 2016. Both times, the Eagles did remarkably well with their picks.

In the 2018 draft, the Eagles traded back from No. 32 with the Baltimore Ravens, getting an extra pick in the second round, fourth round, and a 2019 second-round pick. They picked Dallas Goedert, Avonte Maddox and Miles Sanders, respectively.

The Ravens, of course, picked Lamar Jackson.

In 2023, the Eagles used the No. 30 pick to pick edge rusher Nolan Smith after also using the No. 9 pick acquired in a trade the previous year with New Orleans to take defensive tackle Jalen Carter.

"You have to be patient," Roseman said about picking at the end of the round. "You have to allow things to come to you. The chances that you’re trading up into the top 10, top 15, top 20 are slim. That’s hard to do. You have to really understand the strengths of the draft. You have to spend a lot of time being realistic of who do you think you have an opportunity to get.

"It’s not my best quality, patience. But I think in this situation, understanding the reality of where we are in the draft, what’s going to be available to us potentially, and making sure we know those guys backwards and forwards."

Howie Roseman's purpose for stockpiling draft picks

The Eagles have stockpiled draft picks both this year and in 2026. In all, the Eagles are projected to have 20 picks in the two drafts, beginning with eight this year − all in the first five rounds − and as many as 12 next year assuming four compensatory picks for players lost in free agency this spring.

For Roseman, there's a method of acquiring so many picks, and it's not just to make more picks, although that's certainly part of it.

But it is especially important for the Eagles' current situation, as Roseman explains:

"Where we are right now, we have a lot of good players that have earned their paychecks," Roseman said. "We have others coming up through that will be in position to earn paychecks. We want to get as many young, talented players on this roster as we can to add competition, which is one of (Sirianni's) core values.

"And also because of the financial situation that we're going to have going forward."

In other words, there are several young players such as center Cam Jurgens, Carter and Smith, linebacker Nakobe Dean and defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean who will be up for second contracts in the coming seasons.

So Roseman has a balancing act between paying veterans and saving salary cap space to re-sign the young draft picks. That's why safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was traded, why Goedert will likely be traded, and why the Eagles lost three key players in free agency − Milton Williams, Josh Sweat, Mekhi Becton − and released Darius Slay.

Jordan Davis fifth-year option and the draft

Another financial decision the Eagles have to make is whether to pick up the fifth-year option for defensive tackle Jordan Davis.

The Eagles have until May 1 to decide. Davis' fifth-year option would be worth about $13 million in 2026. If the Eagles don't pick it up, Davis will become a free agent after this season.

Roseman wouldn't discuss Davis specifically. But what the Eagles do in the draft could provide a hint. If they draft a defensive tackle in the first or second round, that could mean the Eagles could be declining Davis' option. If they're not adding a defensive tackle, then Davis' option could be picked up.

Why Eagles will draft a tight end to replace Dallas Goedert

Another issue is what the Eagles are going to do about Goedert, and that seems like a trade. The tight end makes a lot of money − he counts $11.8 million against the salary cap this year and $23.8 million against it next year.

If Roseman is serious about saving salary cap space to afford extensions, then Goedert becomes expendable. That seems to be the case after the Eagles signed two veteran free agents in Harrison Bryant and Kylen Granson. In addition, this is considered a strong draft for tight ends, with two projected to go in the first round and another two in the second round.

Roseman, of course, wouldn't talk specifics. But the Eagles have drafted only one tight end since Goedert in 2018. That was Grant Calcaterra in the sixth round in 2022, and Calcaterra is entering the last year of his contract.

In other words, there's no clear Goedert successor on the roster. And the Eagles have always had someone, whether it was Zach Ertz succeeding Brent Celek, and Goedert succeeding Ertz.

"It's got to be based on the board that we have, and the value in the draft, and we will stack it based on not needs, but on the value of the players in this draft and this class," Roseman said. 

That's kind of a non-answer to say the Eagles will look hard at drafting a tight end.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in "Flying High,” a new hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com