Roseman looks at positives of a draft before free agency

Howie Roseman's version of deja vu may differ from that of Eagles fans.

Last year, Roseman entered his first offseason as Eagles general manager with what many considered glaring weaknesses at cornerback and offensive line. Though he and coach Andy Reid didn't place those needs at the top of their to-do list, a limited free-agent pool and deficiencies in the draft - especially on the line - hindered even more the Eagles' efforts to fill those holes.

In the end, the lack of depth at those positions proved to be a big part of the 2010 Eagles' undoing.

And so, Roseman charged into his second offseason with the same holes to plug: at right cornerback and on the right side of the offensive line.

But the start of this NFL calendar has not been a normal one. The lockout has stalled player movement, and any plans to fill the Eagles' needs through free agency and trades have been put on hold.

Barring a miraculous agreement between the owners and players or a judge lifting the lockout by next Thursday, the draft will take place before free agency for the first time.

As a GM with a reputation as a tinkerer and one still trying to prove himself - he is one of only two rookie GMs to start their jobs last offseason - Roseman has been shortchanged by the labor situation.

"You need a lot of patience through these times," Roseman said during a recent interview at the NovaCare Complex. "Last year, you only had free agency for guys that played six or more years in the league. This year, free agency didn't start when it has in the past. But it allows you to focus on what you can focus on, control what you can control."

Roseman can control the Eagles' draft. It will take place unimpeded by the work stoppage. The draft is essentially his baby, with Reid more the overseer, and it largely will be used to judge his first two years.

It takes years to effectively evaluate a class, but Roseman's first draft was a mixed bag after one season. Top picks Brandon Graham and Nate Allen, far from busts, did not break out the way some rookies did and were lost to season-ending injuries in December.

The Eagles received valuable contributions from a pair of seventh-rounders - safety Kurt Coleman and linebacker Jamar Chaney - and several among the 13 draftees showed promise.

But Graham and Allen will define Roseman's debut as draft mastermind. Reid said last month that Graham, with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, is a stretch to make the season opener, and Allen's return from a torn patellar tendon could be slowed by his not being able to rehabilitate with the Eagles' medical staff.

"It's the nature of the business," Roseman said of the injuries. "You know there's going to be injuries in this game, and that's why you build depth."

The Eagles did little to address depth concerns at cornerback and offensive line last offseason despite trading away corner Sheldon Brown and the return of center Jamaal Jackson from an ACL injury. They drafted only one corner (Trevard Lindley) and did not add a single lineman via the draft, a trade, or free agency.

Brown's replacement, Ellis Hobbs, was inconsistent before he suffered his second consecutive season-ending neck injury. Dimitri Patterson took over at right cornerback but was ill-equipped to handle the position's responsibilities.

Jackson made it back by the opener, but he tore his triceps, an injury he said may have been a result of the rush to return. Mike McGlynn was steady as his replacement, but his move to center gave the Eagles one less option at right guard after Stacy Andrews was jettisoned in the preseason.

"We knew there were going to be some [positions] that wouldn't be as great as we would like," Roseman said.

In hindsight, the Eagles may have been better served staying put at pick No. 24 - and possibly taking a cornerback such as Devin McCourty - instead of trading away that pick and two third-rounders to move up for Graham. But it's still too early to dismiss Graham, and there weren't many quality offensive linemen in last year's draft after the top three.

This year, Roseman said, there are. It's why many have projected the Eagles to select at No. 23 one of five tackles with near universal first-round grades.

Some expected the Eagles to dive headfirst into free agency this offseason, not to mention trade backup quarterback Kevin Kolb. But as much as the labor strife has handcuffed Roseman, he said no free agency will make his job easier during this year's draft.

"We always talk about taking the best player, and now because you have the draft first you can really stick true to that," Roseman said. "You may normally say, 'Man, this guy is a heck of a player. But we just signed so-and-so.' Well, you can do stuff like that now."

Most of Howie Roseman's preparation for the NFL draft - next Thursday through April 30 - has been done well in advance.

The evaluation and grading of prospects began last May and hit full tilt during the college football season. After last season ended, the Eagles general manager began to work in earnest on his draft board. He will fiddle with it until the final moments before NFL commissioner Roger Goodell takes the podium at Radio City Music Hall next Thursday.

Here is a look at Roseman's chores on a typical day in the last few weeks:

1. He constantly shuffles prospects in and out of the NovaCare Complex for workouts, physical exams, and face-to-face meetings.

2. He rewinds the tape on players the Eagles have targeted early in the draft even though most of the film work has been done.

3. He monitors his evaluators on the road as they look under every rock during background checks on players.

4. He meets with scouts reporting from various college pro days and other scouting trips.

5. He meets with the coaches to evaluate the current roster and specifically each position group.

6. He holds strategy meetings to craft the draft board and discuss trading up or down in the first round and other deals.

7. He goes over medical reports on prospects with the Eagles medical team, which is headed by trainer Rick Burkholder.

8. He confers with coach Andy Reid - only two office doors away - up to 25 times a day.

- Jeff McLane

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