Updated Needs

Howie Roseman has had a busy offseason, adding impact players, potential starters and good backups to the Eagles roster. The goal is to have most major needs filled as you go into the draft so you can focus on talent and thinking long term.

We've signed TE @cj_uzomah to a 1-year deal. @Toyota | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/Q3LPBKaiFG

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) April 11, 2024

One of the big holes the Eagles had was backup TE. Grant Calcaterra and Albert O are talented projects, but you’d be nervous about having them start in key games. Uzomah has started 82 games in his career and has 192 catches. He has excellent size at 6-5, 271. If Calcaterra or Albert beats him out, that’s great. But you like having a proven veteran in the mix. Dallas Goedert is one of the better TEs in the league, but he hasn’t played a full season since his rookie year.

The Eagles could still draft a TE. This just isn’t a strong class so that lessens the likelihood of a good player being available when you pick. The Eagles might have some player they like and take a chance. Or they could go the UDFA route and see if they can find good value.

Now that TE depth has been addressed, let’s take a look at where the Eagles have needs.

OL – Jack Driscoll and Sua Opeta are gone. That may not sound like a big deal, but they were reliable backups for several years. Cam Jurgens is slated to take over at center and Tyler Steen is the frontrunnerat RG. That leave Fred Johnson as the backup OT and Matt Hennessy as the backup G/C. We’ll see if Brett Toth can win a roster spot. The team clearly needs an OL or two to help with depth and competition.

WR – DeVante Parker and Parris Campbell are bandaids. Britain Covey has barely played at WR. The Eagles could use a young, cheap WR to add to the mix. I don’t think they should spend a pick before the third round. We’ll see if the team feels differently.

RB – Saquon Barkley and Kenny Gainwell are a good 1-2 punch. The Eagles need someone to add depth. I think this will be a late round type of pick.

DL – Fletcher Cox retired. Milton Williams will take his spot in the starting lineup. That means the team needs someone to fill Williams role as a key backup. Moro Ojomo could be that guy. He was a late pick last year and I’d be careful about counting on him to be a key player this year. He showed good flashes, but is still an unproven commodity. I could see the Eagles using a mid-round pick on a DL.

Edge – I don’t think the Eagles need anything for 2024. They could take an edge, knowing that BG and Josh Sweat could be gone next year.

LB – The Eagles need talent here. Nakobe Dean is unproven. Devin White is talented, but brings some questions with him. I don’t think there is an off-ball LB worth pick 22. I do think the team could take a LB as early as the second round. They won’t reach, but do need to find a talented player and not just an athletic project.

SAF – CJGJ, Reed Blankenship and Sydney Brown give the Eagles a good trio of safeties. I don’t see them investing an early pick at this position, but could add a safety later on, especially if the player has the potential to play in the slot. Could be a priority UDFA spot. It would help to know if the team projects Mekhi Garner as a S or CB. If they like him at S, the team is in good shape at safety.

CB – The Eagles need a young starter for the future (and maybe present). They have been looking at corners, but also nickels. It is possible the Eagles could spend a pair of picks at this position.

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I thought this was interesting.

how howie roseman has spent his draft capital (using the fitzgerald-spielberger chart) since 2011 pic.twitter.com/AAyfrUQ961

— Tej Seth (@tejfbanalytics) April 9, 2024

Howie does love the line of scrimmage. To be fair, you have 5 OL and 3 or 4 DL as starters and you need backups so those are high volume positions. Still, there is no question he likes spending high picks on those spot.

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