Understanding Howie

Howie Roseman is a complicated subject. When he makes an offseason move, Eagles fans go nuts with “Howie SZN!” Some opposing fans respond with “How did he do it again?”.  They are frustrated with the constant stream of smart moves. The media rates him as the best or second best general manager in the league. John Schneider is getting a ton of love for what he did with Seattle last year.

There are some people who think Howie is over-praised. I had one opposing fan tell me “he’s no genius”. I agree, he’s not a genius. Howie would likely agree. He isn’t likely to be able to give an in-depth explanation of Planck’s constant or Plato’s philosophical beliefs. Howie is an NFL GM. His job is to build a roster and he is absolutely brilliant at that.

We tend to think of GMs as guys who are great at identifying talent. That’s a bit of a misconception. Scouts go find the players. They grind film constantly and hit the road to do all the in-person research that helps to identify players who fit a team’s culture. Howie didn’t have to work his way up the ladder from area scout on up. He’s certainly been on the road and done his share of scouting. He learned how to watch tape and write reports, but I wouldn’t say that is what makes him special.

Howie’s special ability is gathering data, sorting through it and then making smart decisions. That’s what a great GM does. He can’t be on the road studying 500 players. He can’t watch every NFL game looking for talent. The great GM has to hire the right people, train them and then trust them to do their jobs well. Howie very clearly has a strong track record with hires. Just look at the guys who have been hired away. That’s not an accident.

Some people argue that Howie is overrated because of the way the Eagles structure contracts and are able to manipulate the cap. The Eagles were one of the first teams, if not the first, to figure out this loophole. That’s smart business. There are 32 teams that all have talented players and coaches. You have to find every advantage possible. The Eagles did just that and it has helped them to three Super Bowls in a decade. If it is so easy to do, why don’t all 32 teams do it? The Eagles are committed to winning. Other teams focus more on making money.

Having these extra resources only works if you spend the money well. Zack Baun and Saquon Barkley seem like pretty good investments. Riq Woolen could turn out to be a great addition. LeGarrette Blount, Alshon Jeffrey, Brandon Brooks, Malcolm Jenkins, Patrick Robinson, Chris Long…were those guys any good? Howie certainly isn’t perfect, but he’s right way more than he’s wrong and the results show that.

Howie understands resources better than most GMs. He knows draft picks are the lifeblood of an organization. You need young, cheap talent to mix with expensive veterans. The LA Dodgers don’t exist in the NFL. The cap is flexible, but is real. There are limitations. At the same time, is a rookie the right guy for a Super Bowl contender? Howie traded for Jalean Phillips last year. He traded for Jonathan Greenard and Dontayvion Wicks this year. He wanted veteran players who should be able to help right away. Rookies are hit and miss.

Trading is one of Howie’s strengths. He talks to the other 31 teams on a regular basis. He wants to know who might have a player that the Eagles could be interested in. If so and the price is right, go get him. Trades are a great way to upgrade a roster. Michael Carter could turn out to be a key role player this season. Tank Bigsby was a great addition last year. John Metchie didn’t work out for the Eagles, but Howie dealt him for Carter. Use your resources. Be creative.

The Eagles drafted JJ Arcega-Whiteside. That didn’t work out so they dealt him for DB Ugo Amadi. Then Howie turned around and traded Amadi for a 2024 sixth round pick. That turned into WR Johnny Wilson, who the Eagles still have high hopes for. He was a good role player on a team that won the SB. JJAW hasn’t played since leaving Philly. Ugo has bounced around a couple of teams, starting five games for the Saints in 2025. Use your resources. Be creative. (h/t to Jimmy Bama on that nugget).

One of the keys here is to not be afraid to fail. Howie says he would rather regret a bad decision than not making a move he thought could work. No one is going to be perfect. You have to make mistakes and embrace them. Learn from then. Mistakes can be a very valuable currency if used correctly. The Eagles really wanted Russell Wilson back in 2012. They had pick 88 and were waiting for Wilson to get to them. Seattle took him 75th overall. The Eagles did get Nick Foles so it worked out in a way, but Howie didn’t ever want to get burned like that again. In the 2020 draft he took Jalen Hurts earlier than most had him projected. How’d that work out?

Let’s talk about the draft. Howie wants stars, not just players. When Jalen Carter falls, Howie trades up for him. Same with Jihaad Campbell, Cooper DeJean, DeVonta Smith and this year Makai Lemon. Be aggressive. Go get players you feel strongly about. Teams that win in the NFL tend to have high end talent. Every team has players. Howie wants stars. Get those guys when they are within your reach. Don’t be afraid to give up resources to get guys that are difference-makers. They turn good teams into great teams. They get you to the postseason.

One of Howie’s strengths seems to be gathering intel from around the league on what other teams are going to do. He doesn’t have a spy feeding him info. Howie works the phones like a madman, always trying to get any nugget of info he can. This requires building relationships and earning trust. It also just flat out takes effort. I don’t know how the Steelers didn’t anticipate the Eagles possibly moving up for Lemon. You need to understand the whole league, especially the teams close to your picks. Do your homework.

Part of what makes Howie a good drafter is understanding value and resources. He generally has a good feel for where players will go. I think the real key is that he empowers his scouting staff, listens to them and trusts them. Howie sticks to the draft board. Fans wanted a safety in the fifth round. Howie said QB Cole Payton was the highest rated player on the board. Are you going to throw out 10 months of scouting to reach for a need? Not Howie. He also does a great job of moving up and down rather than just sitting still. If the couple of players you wanted are gone, don’t reach. Move back. Add to your resources so maybe you can trade up in the next round.

Howie is always listening to the people around him. Think about the way he talks about critical traits and will often mention Jeff Stoutland. Those conversations helped Howie form some key draft beliefs. Vic Fangio definitely has his ear. The way Fangio talked about Jalyx Hunt…you can tell that’s a player he really wanted. Clint Hurtt said his passion player was Uar Bernard and Howie made sure to go get him this year. Put smart people around you and listen to them.

He wisely tries to draft-proof the roster every year. He goes into the draft with capable starters across the board. That allows him to focus on talent and the future rather than reaching for need. He’s thinking of long term needs, not just the upcoming season. Not nearly enough teams take this approach. That leads to some bad picks and disappointing outcomes.

The Eagles truly embrace UDFAs. These are like free draft picks. The scouts and positional coaches build relationships with prospects they think could go undrafted. Then those guys start getting calls on Saturday afternoon to set things in motion. The Eagles pay them well to entice UDFAs to come to Philly. You would think they would prefer bad rosters like the Jets or Cardinals. But the Eagles almost always have one of the best UDFA classes. They work hard at this. Use your resources. Be creative.

Howie is constantly looking to upgrade the roster. He doesn’t make moves for the heck of it. He is on the hunt for guys who fit the culture and the scheme. He wants players who are upgrades, not just new faces. He signed Blount several months into free agency. He added CJGJ just before the season began. He brought Ndamukong Suh onto the roster in November. Always be looking. The offseason stops in the summer, but adding talent is 24/7/365.

Howie has done a good job of handling tough situations well. Carson Wentz did not handle the drafting of Hurts well and let it be known he wanted out of town. Howie was able to get a third round pick and conditional second rounder for him. Bryce Huff wanted out. Howie got a good deal for him from SF. Haason Reddick wanted out. They got a third rounder for him. Do you remember CB Byron Maxwell? Howie traded him, Kiko Alonso and the 13th pick to Miami for the 8th overall pick. The Eagles got rid of players they didn’t want and moved up five spots. They eventually moved up from there and took Wentz.

I hate to bring up a sore subject, but I feel like Howie has handled the AJ Brown situation the right way. We’ll see what he gets in return when June rolls around. There were limited suitors and some serious cap complications, but you feel like Howie will get a solid return for another player who wants out.

There was a time early in his career when Howie tried to win every trade, or so if felt that way. I think Jason Licht accused him of that and said it hurt his reputation around the league. After Chip Kelly banished Howie to the nether regions, Howie seems different. He is willing to pay a fair price in deals and is making as many trades as anyone in the league. Teams are always nervous when he calls, but he seems to have strong relationships around the league at this point. He’s certainly highly respected due to the great job he’s done.

Patience hasn’t always been his strong suit, but I think that is another area where Howie has really grown. He doesn’t rush to get a deal done if it doesn’t feel right. He will hold a player he’s trying to trade until the value makes sense. Why rush? This is also true with negotiations. The Dallas Goedert contract restructure last year happened on May 7. Howie gave the situation time to play out. He didn’t rush into the Greenard trade this year. Howie kept his options open until the draft, when there was a hard deadline. What if Maxx Crosby or Myles Garrett had become available? Why rush?

That patience also carries over to player development. I remember someone asking a tough question about Nakobe Dean a couple of years ago. Howie strongly voiced his belief in Dean and we saw why with how he played last year. Think about the growth with Jordan Davis from 2022-2025. He’s a very different player now and earned an extension. Don’t give up on guys like Ty Robinson or Cameron Williams just yet. Howie will be patient with them. They were drafted for a reason. They may not pan out, but give the coaches time to develop them.

I want to provide a bit of context for this piece. Back in late 2020 or early 2021 I called for Howie’s firing. He was in a rough stretch. Thankfully, Jeffrey Lurie ignored me  (as usual) and gave Howie a chance to work through some things. His record since then is pretty spectacular. I’ve never spoken to Howie. I would absolutely love to have an in-depth conversation with him to pick his brain and get an even better understanding of his ideas and the Eagles methods. He did once email me with his condolences after my dad passed, which I truly appreciated. This isn’t me throwing rose petals at my hero. This is me judging results. And the last decade, especially the past few years, Howie has done a brilliant job of roster building. He’s delivered three SB appearances and a pair of Lombardis. That’s just a fact.

Howie might not be a genius, but he is a damn good GM. He’s got a legit shot at making the Hall of Fame. If he’s able to sustain success for another decade and win another SB, he could go down as one of the greatest GMs of all time. Sustaining that success is easier said than done. It will be interesting to if Howie is able to do that. His track record would sure tell you there is a legit chance that the Eagles keep on winning.

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