After an impressive performance in the 2024 NFL Draft, Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has received plenty of praise from the national media.
Roseman pulled off eight trades during this year’s event and maneuvered his way up and down the draft board. Philadelphia selected nine players and added three additional draft picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Philadelphia Eagles GM Howie Roseman Joins ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ To Recap Offseason
Following the draft, Roseman joined “The Pat McAfee Show” to discuss Philadelphia’s busy offseason. McAfee and company asked Roseman several questions about Philadelphia’s offseason, including the addition of star running back Saquon Barkley.
“It’s hard to get difference makers, and he’s a difference maker on and off the field. The way he plays, his skill set is unique,” Roseman said when asked about Barkley.
Roseman compared Barkley to two former Eagles running backs — Brian Westbrook and LeSean McCoy. Many (including myself) believed Philadelphia wouldn’t sign a running back to a massive contract this offseason.
Yet Roseman mentioned that the Eagles are opting to go against the grain by spending significant money at running back. He believes Barkley is a potentially risky move that could separate the Eagles from the rest of the teams in today’s NFL.
“If everyone’s doing the same things in the middle, you’re probably in that middle range,” Roseman said. “You’ve got to do things that maybe put you a little bit at risk but also give you a chance to have that confetti fall on your head at the end.”
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Roseman was also asked about attempting to replace center Jason Kelce, who he admitted is irreplaceable.
“You don’t replace that,” Roseman said. “It would be disingenuous to even pretend like we’re going to replace Jason Kelce, the person and the player.”
Eagles GM Howie Roseman Discusses Philadelphia’s 2024 NFL Draft Class
While Roseman discussed several of Philadelphia’s veteran moves this offseason, he was also asked about the team’s impressive haul in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Roseman discussed the team’s strategy in the first round, where he was surprisingly patient. He even mentioned that Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie was shocked that Roseman was barely on the phone looking to move up during the first round of this year’s event.
Philadelphia’s general manager talked about the selections of Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Roseman admitted that the Eagles were considering both players in the first round with the No. 22 overall selection.
Roseman was specifically asked about DeJean, who shockingly fell to Philadelphia’s range in the second round.
“Cooper is a playmaker,” Roseman said. “He’s got elite instincts. Wherever you put him, he is a playmaker. He has a nose for the ball. You’ve seen him do it in clutch moments. His ability to play all around the secondary and make plays.”
KEEP READING: Grading the Eagles’ 2024 NFL Draft Picks
Philadelphia is clearly excited to add both Mitchell and DeJean to the team’s secondary. After a disastrous end to last season, it was clear that Roseman emphasized improving the team’s defense this offseason. Now it’s time for them to put it all together on the field in 2024.