Update From Howie
Posted April 15th, 2025 | 2 Comments »Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni met the media on Tuesday to give a pre-draft press conference. Since the focus of this was the draft, Howie did the vast majority of the talking. I’d love to tell you he offered some great nuggets, but that would be a stretch. Howie is too smart to start spilling the beans with just a week to go.
Here are a few items of interest.
#Eagles GM Howie Roseman on the draft: “The way we go into looking in the draft is we always take the worst-case scenario and work back from that, and we’ve got to be really comfortable with whatever is our worst-case scenario, which will always entail getting a good player.…
— John McMullen (@JFMcMullen) April 15, 2025
This is interesting. Most people who do a mock draft have an ideal scenario. If Abdul Carter falls to 22, the Eagles can trade a third next year and go get him. Sounds great, but not particularly realistic. The Eagles did not expect Quinyon Mitchell to fall to 22 last year. They were thrilled when that happened. They prepared for scenarios where he would be gone and they would have less appealing choices.
You want to go through those scenarios before draft weekend so you’re prepared. If something good happens, those decisions are much easier to make. You really have to prepare for the tough situations. Howie and his staff do a great job of going through scenarios so they are ready for whatever happens.
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Eagles GM Howie Roseman on the value of interior defensive linemen and acquiring them in the draft:
“Obviously interior pass rush is a huge deal in the National Football League. Getting quick pressure on quarterbacks is a huge deal. And I think you’ve seen our resources shift…
— Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) April 15, 2025
The Eagles used to obsess on edge rushers. If you’re old enough, you remember Andy Reid and Jim Johnson talking about fastballs. They wanted fresh legs coming off the bench so they would be able to get after the QB all game long. Things have shifted a bit in recent years. QBs are so good at getting rid of the ball quickly that interior pressure has become more valuable.
The Eagles have a good trio of DTs in Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo. They still could go for another one at pick 32. Heck, they could trade up for someone if they feel the player is worth it. The three candidates that make the most sense are Walter Nolen, Kenneth Grant and Derrick Harmon.We haven’t talked much about Harmon, but he is a darn good prospect. He’s a big, athletic, productive interior pass rusher.
Derrick Harmon has a case for second best pass rusher in the class. Arsenal of moves. NFL size. Really long. Very athletic. Aware of where the QB is moving. Variety of alignments.
My DT1. Top 10 overall player. pic.twitter.com/Qe9GsYOnIh
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) April 15, 2025
If you ask Fran Duffy, he’ll talk about how awesome Walter Nolen is for several hours. And just when you think he’s done, Fran will remember some other nugget that makes a good case for Nolen.
Fran Duffy on Walter Nolen, who’s an Eagles broadcaster, talking to Dane Brugler:
“I have a stat that compiles tackles, TFL’s, sacks, hits, and hurries on a per snap basis. Nolen is in the 90th % for all DT’s drafted in the last decade of day 1 and 2 players from the draft.”
— Jim Hester (@Jh86Guy) April 10, 2025
Joking aside, he is a really intriguing prospect. Nolen, not Fran.
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Takeaways from Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni’s pre-draft presser:
– Roseman said they don’t have 32 players with Round 1 grades, and that they rarely do.
– Sirianni said “big, strong, fast, tough,” is what he looks for in TE prospects.
– Roseman didn’t offer much on the… pic.twitter.com/FgpXfqpJPU— EJ Smith (@EJSmith94) April 15, 2025
Don’t be thrown off by the comments about 32 first round grades. That is true for most teams. There was a time a few years back when the Patriots only had about 80 guys on their entire draft board. Teams get very picky.
This ties back into the earlier point about going through scenarios. Howie and his staff will be prepared for whatever happens.
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[…] Update From Howie – Iggles BlitzThe Eagles used to obsess on edge rushers. If you’re old enough, you remember Andy Reid and Jim Johnson talking about fastballs. They wanted fresh legs coming off the bench so they would be able to get after the QB all game long. Things have shifted a bit in recent years. QBs are so good at getting rid of the ball quickly that interior pressure has become more valuable. The Eagles have a good trio of DTs in Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo. They still could go for another one at pick 32. Heck, they could trade up for someone if they feel the player is worth it. The three candidates that make the most sense are Walter Nolen, Kenneth Grant and Derrick Harmon.We haven’t talked much about Harmon, but he is a darn good prospect. He’s a big, athletic, productive interior pass rusher. […]
[…] Update From Howie – Iggles BlitzThe Eagles used to obsess on edge rushers. If you’re old enough, you remember Andy Reid and Jim Johnson talking about fastballs. They wanted fresh legs coming off the bench so they would be able to get after the QB all game long. Things have shifted a bit in recent years. QBs are so good at getting rid of the ball quickly that interior pressure has become more valuable. The Eagles have a good trio of DTs in Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo. They still could go for another one at pick 32. Heck, they could trade up for someone if they feel the player is worth it. The three candidates that make the most sense are Walter Nolen, Kenneth Grant and Derrick Harmon.We haven’t talked much about Harmon, but he is a darn good prospect. He’s a big, athletic, productive interior pass rusher. […]