The Eagles' Howie Roseman cannot mess this up, right? | Marcus Hayes
The Eagles executive vice president of football operations does fine when there are lots of draft targets,
Even Howie can't mess this up.
The NFL draft is so deep at cornerback and wide receiver – the Eagles' positions of aching need – that even the guy who drafted Danny Watkins and Marcus Smith can't botch this one.
It's a no-brainer. That qualifies Howie Roseman to make this pick.
All kidding aside, Roseman is a bright and driven executive, but his genius lies more in deal-making and cap manipulation than in judging the talents of, say, Nnamdi Asomugha. Or Jaiquawn Jarrett. Or Cary Williams. Or Bradley Fletcher.
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In Roseman's defense, he didn't have final say when the Eagles shocked the football world and took Watkins 23rd overall in the 2011 draft, though his power as Andy Reid's pint-sized sidekick was growing. Reid was fired after the 2012 season. Watkins followed Reid out of town in August 2013 having played in just 23 games.
About 20 months later, Roseman again outfoxed the football world when he used the 26th pick to draft Smith, a late-blooming outside linebacker from Louisville whom Roseman expected to rack up sacks. Smith has four sacks in three seasons.
Both Watkins and Smith were picked after the top two-thirds of the Day 1 talent was taken. Still, four defensive linemen who have at least 25 career sacks were picked within 14 picks of Watkins, as was quarterback Andy Dalton, who has been to three Pro Bowls.
After Roseman picked Smith in 2014, he used a second-round pick on productive slot receiver Jordan Matthews, who has 19 touchdown catches. However, six other receivers drafted after Smith have at least 14 touchdown catches. The Eagles stood pat with Riley Cooper, who has five touchdown catches since 2014, and, since the end of 2015, no job.
When there are lots of targets, Howie doesn't miss. There was a glut of offensive linemen in 2013, and Roseman exited with Lane Johnson, who, when he's not suspended for using PEDs, is the best of that bunch. Then again, PEDs and dominance might be cause-and-effect.
Last season, Roseman snared the best of the three first-round quarterbacks when he judged Carson Wentz to be superior to Jared Goff and Paxton Lynch. Yes, Cowboys fourth-rounder Dak Prescott won the rookie-of-the-year award, but not even Dallas expected anything like that to happen.
This year's draft class looks foolproof for a team that needs pass-catchers and pass-defenders. When it's foolproof, Howie's in his element.
Clemson receiver Mike Williams and Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore are certain to be gone by the time the Eagles pick 14th, but the Birds might very well have a shot at Western Michigan receiver Corey Davis or OSU corner Gareon Conley. If they're gone, the Birds should be able to land lightning-fast receiver John Ross from Washington, LSU corner Tre'Davious White or Alabama corner Marlon Humphrey. At least three receivers and as many as five corners could be selected in the first round. All three receivers and at least four of the corners are worth serious consideration at No. 14.
Howie cannot mess this up.
Can he?