Howie Roseman’s History With Picks From 10 To 15
The Philadelphia Eagles hold the 12th overall pick in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft after trading back from the 6th pick with the Miami Dolphins, gaining a first round pick in the 2022 draft in return.
When analyzing recent draft history during Howie Roseman’s tenure with the Eagles, a common theme arises in picks made between 10 and 15. That theme is Howie Roseman has an affinity for the trenches in this area, especially on the defensive side.
The Eagles have rarely picked in the top 15 of the draft in recent years, as they have experienced relative success in the past decade or so. Their No. 14 pick in 2017 came as a result of Howie Roseman flipping Sam Bradford for a first round ahead of the 2016-17 season.
With that pick in 2017, Roseman selected DE Derek Barnett from Tennessee. Now, four years later, Barnett’s fifth year option just became official and approaches his last season under contract with the Eagles.
As Barnett approaches the possibility of an extension after this season, his somewhat disappointing statline of 19.5 sacks in four seasons while missing 15 games will need some major improvements this season to be worthy of a big dollar contract.
The Eagles have only held their own pick between 10 and 15 twice since 2010, and have done remarkably well with those two picks as both players are important pieces on their defensive line around ten years later.
Fletcher Cox was the most recent of the two, picked 12th overall in 2012 and stands as the only Eagle to be drafted with the 12th pick until the upcoming draft, as long as Roseman doesn’t do more maneuvering.
Cox has been a standout defensive lineman so far in his career, earning six Pro Bowl selections as well as a First Team All-Pro selection in 2018. In his tenth year with the Eagles, Cox is currently No. 5 among the franchise’s leaders in sacks with 54.5.
Just a spot above Cox on that list, with the fourth most sacks in franchise history, is the other player who has been taken between picks 10 and 15 since 2010, Brandon Graham.
Graham has also turned out a great career in midnight green, with his 59 sacks nowhere near as important in the hearts of Eagles fans as his forced fumble that sealed the Eagles first Super Bowl win.
Credit: Mark J Rebilas / USA Today Sports
In 2006, the Eagles drafted defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley with the 14th overall pick, a player who was the primary starter at his position for seven seasons but failed to earn a pro bowl appearance.
Bunkley became a starter for the Eagles in 2007 and started in every game until 2009. In 2011 Bunkley was traded to the Cleveland Browns for a 2012 fifth round pick, but the trade was voided after Bunkley did not report to the Browns and was then traded to the Denver Broncos for an unspecified pick in the 2013 draft.
Three years prior, the Eagles drafted DE Jerome McDougle with the 15th overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. McDougle only spent three years with the Eagles, playing in 33 games but starting none.
In 2003, Howie Roseman was promoted from salary cap intern to Director of Football Administration for the Eagles. Since then, he worked his way up to the General Manager of the Eagles in 2010 and has had the position since.
Since Howie Roseman was named GM, he has only taken defensive lineman with his first round picks between 10 and 15. Even since Roseman began his position as the director of football administration in 2003, only defensive lineman have been picked by the Eagles in that span.
Considering this, it’s easy to assume where Roseman’s mindset might be as we approach the 2021 NFL draft. Some defensive lineman prospects to watch for the Eagles at pick #12 are edge rushers Gregory Rousseau out of Miami, Azeez Ojulari out of Georgia, and Kwity Paye out of Michigan.
For more on those defensive line prospects for the Eagles to pick at 12, make sure to check out PHLSportsNation.com next Wednesday for my analysis on the three edge rushers and who I’d prefer the Eagles to take.
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