Iggles Blitz

by Tommy Lawlor

Roster Building

Posted May 4th, 2026 | 1 Comment »

Howie Roseman is one of the best general managers in the NFL. You don’t get to that level without learning some tough lessons along the way. There are several picks and free agent signings  that he’d love to have back, but those moves also helped him to learn what not to do. Howie is lucky enough with his job security to be able to work through mistakes and then apply the lessons to future moves.

He has developed some definitive ideas on roster building over the years. He covets difference-makers. All teams do, but Howie is aggressive about getting them. Just look at the recent first round pick situation. Makai Lemon was projected to be a Top 15 pick. When he slid, Howie started making calls. He saw Lemon as a perfect fit for the Eagles new scheme and someone that could help them get over the loss of AJ Brown.

The Steelers really wanted Lemon as well. They sat tight and waited for him to fall to pick 21. Oops. Howie moved up to pick 20 to get his guy. If you really want a player, go get him. The Eagles paid a big price, giving up a pair of fourth round picks. But those picks were not likely to become difference-makers. You can find mid-level players all year long. Special guys are rarely available. Pay the price to get one.

If Lemon thrives in this offense, those fourth round picks will become a distant memory. If he flops, we’ll be following those picks like a hawk. Howie embraces risk. He has said he would rather make a bold move than regret passing on it. Then you question yourself for a long time. What if?

In the second round Howie took a freak athlete with a lot of upside. Eli Stowers had a vertical of 45.5 inches and ran 4.51. At basically the same size, Grant Calcaterra jumped 32.5 inches and ran 4.62. He was considered an athletic TE. Stowers goes into a different category. He’s got special potential. Stowers is still learning how to play TE and his blocking needs a ton of work, but the Eagles drafted him to be a difference-maker in the passing game. He’s got that kind of ability.

The Eagles traded a pair of third round draft picks for edge rusher Jonathan Greenard. Giving up those picks had to hurt, but Howie is building a team with Super Bowl aspirations. He would rather have a proven pass rusher than a draft prospect who might pan out. Howie is smart enough to see draft picks as resources. Trade them if acquiring a veteran player is the more prudent move. Don’t obsess on picks. They are important, but have different value to different teams. If you’re rebuilding, picks are gold. If you’re in win now mode, use them accordingly. Howie sees Greenard as another player who can be a difference-maker for the Eagles.

Howie likes big OL. Jordan Mailata. Mekhi Becton. Landon Dickerson. And that led to him taking OT Markell Bell in the third round.

Not everyone buys into Bell as a future NFL starter. Greg Cosell doesn’t like him. But Howie likes big guys and sees a lot of potential. The Eagles did a lot of pre-draft work on Bell to make sure they believed in his ability to reach his potential. Remember that potential isn’t always a good word. If a player has it, but can’t figure out how to realize his potential, you have a wasted move. The Eagles believe in Bell. They have a plan for him. That doesn’t mean it will work, but this wasn’t a random pick. Bell was someone they targeted.

That’s another thing Howie does. He finds players he and the scouting staff really like. They desperately wanted Cooper DeJean and were able to get him in 2024. Those of us outside the league study hundreds of players and build big draft boards. NFL teams usually have 125 to 150 guys on their boards. They are very specific with their targets. Howie has really embraced this idea and it has worked well for him.

Not everyone was a fan of the Eagles taking a QB in the fifth round when safety was more of a need. Why add a fourth QB? Howie articulated this when he made the QB factory comment a few years back. He caught a ton of grief for that, but his sentiment was actually a good one. Howie was influenced by Andy Reid on the importance of QBs. Andy got it from legendary Packers GM Ron Wolf.

Wolf took over as GM in 1992. He had a guy named Don Majkowski as his QB. The Majik Man was an effective starter. Wolf traded for Brett Favre, who he thought could be a star. And Wolf added QBs in the draft throughout the 90’s.

1992 – 9th round – Ty Detmer
1993 – 5th round – Mark Brunell
1995 – 5th round – Jay Barker
1996 – 7th round – Kyle Wachholtz
1997 – 7th round – Ron McAda
1998 – 6th round – Matt Hasselbeck
1999 – 4th round – Aaron Brooks

There are a few misses, but some really impressive hits. Detmer, Brunell, Hasselbeck and Brooks all became starters. Ironically, Wolf didn’t need them as backups because Favre turned out to be an amazing iron man who never missed games. But Wolf was able to trade some of the QBs and get good returns. He almost traded Brunell to Philly in 1994, but the deal fell apart. That kills me. Brunell is one of my favorite QBs. Would have been really cool to see him as an Eagle.

Howie said that Cole Payton was the highest rated player on the Eagles board so they took him. They weren’t reaching for a QB. They felt he was good value. Payton is a really good athlete with limited experience so he will need work. The Eagles have a plan for him. Don’t worry too much about the Eagles having four QBs. Payton has to play well enough to earn a roster spot. If he has a good summer, Howie will gladly deal with that. Having four QBs you like is a good problem to have. Tanner McKee can still be dealt if the Eagles get the right offer.

The Eagles really wanted to draft DT Uar Bernard because of his unique potential. Howie made a trade to get a seventh round pick so he could take Bernard without having to reach for him. Smart business. As much as the Eagles like Bernard, he is a major project. You do not want to overpay for those guys. Be smart with your resources.

The Eagles are aggressive when it comes to signing UDFAs. This is another avenue of roster building. They are willing to pay high bonuses or guarantees to get players they really want. I expect LB Deontae Lawson and TE Dae’Quan Wright got good money. Both guys can challenge for roster spots. The Eagles didn’t take a safety until late in the draft so they added two or three as UDFAs. This is more bites at the apple, so to speak. If you can’t address a spot with quality, do it with quantity You never know when you’ll find the next Reed Blankenship or Quintin Mikell (for the old school crowd).

Not all of these picks/moves are going to work. That’s just reality. If the big moves pan out, Howie will be a happy man. He’ll then study the moves that didn’t work to be better prepared for the 2027 offseason. Always be learning.

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Dominant Defense?

Posted May 3rd, 2026 | 1 Comment »

The Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2024 in large part due to a dominant defense that was first in the league in yards allowed and second in points allowed. The defense was erratic early in 2025, but came alive after the Jaelan Phillips trade. That unit finished fifth in the league in points allowed.

The outlook for 2026 is good, very good. You can make an argument that the Eagles have the best trio of corners in the league (Mitchell, DeJean, Woolen). You can make an argument they have the best trio of DTs in the league (Carter, Davis, Ojomo). They have a good set of pass rushers (Greenard, Smith, Hunt, Ebiketie). The LBs are very talented and good playmakers (Baun, Campbell). The weak spot is safety, where Drew Mukuba and Marcus Epps are the projected starters.

I don’t see safety as a weak spot so much as just unproven. We haven’t seen Mukuba and Epps play much together. Mukuba is the cover guy and playmaker. Epps is the hitter and tackler. Both know the system and should work well together. Vic Fangio isn’t going to put out safeties that he’s not comfortable with. He wanted Mukuba in the draft and has said good things about Epps. Trust Vic.

There shouldn’t be a slow start on defense this year. Campbell and Mukuba are in Year 2 so they should be more comfortable and effective. One of the keys will be keeping Jalen Carter healthy. He only played in 11 games last year and was limited in others due to a nagging shoulder injury. If he gets back to his healthy 2024 form, look out. He’ll likely be fired up in hopes of getting a contract extension. Smith was hampered by an injury last year and that limited his effectiveness. He should be good this time around.

The Eagles have good depth. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka gives them a big edge to compete for a spot. Rookie Keyshawn James-Newby is undersized, but explosive. One of them should make the team. Ty Robinson is a player the team is high on. He needs to take a step forward this year to be more disruptive when he’s on the field. Byron Young needs to work on his run defense, especially anchoring against double teams. Jeremiah Trotter Jr gives the team a good #3 LB. Michael Carter can play nickel or safety. Jonathan Jones is a veteran DB who can play nickel or outside. Mac McWilliams is in Year 2 and needs to show good progress.

Cole Wisniewski can push for a starting spot or be good depth. Check out this quote in regard to scheme fit in Fangio’s system.

“He’s one of the godfathers of the two-high and shell system, and I’ve played in the shell system for my entire college career…

“Looking forward to the next level, I thought ‘Vic Fangio’s system would be a really good system for me’… and so being able to come to the source is awesome.”

Thank you to Jimmy Bama for getting that quote. Doesn’t sound like a typical rookie. Wisniewski is older and that maturity shows. He will do everything he can to get on the field and find a role for this team.

It feels like Howie has given Fangio all the right pieces. Maybe they decide to add a veteran safety. Maybe they decide to add a veteran DT to the mix for depth. But the players in place now can be one of the best defenses in the league. They have the right combination of experience, talent and returning players. The key to good defense is for all 11 guys to be on the same page. Woolen and Greenard are the only new guys to the scheme. Greenard will fit in easily because of his role. Woolen has to learn how the Eagles like to cover schematically. The good news is that he’s got the speed to make up for some of the mistakes he’ll make.

I’m excited to see this group in action. They could be special.

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One of the things that helped the 2024 defense to play at such a high level was the Eagles offense. They were able to sustain drives and keep the defense off the field. Obviously that wasn’t the case last year and it put added pressure on the defense.

If the OL is healthy this season, the offense should do a better job of sustaining drives. That means more rest for the defense. That means more time with the coaches to make adjustments. Let’s hope the offense is greatly improved so it will benefit the defense…and be much less painful for us to watch.

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