The Philadelphia Eagles seem ahead of the curve relative to every other team when it comes to GM Howie Roseman's proactive philosophy toward upgrading the roster.
Roseman has generated a significant amount of goodwill in the City of Brotherly Love thanks to the Eagles' two Super Bowl victories during his tenure. However, for Roseman to morph into the powerhouse he is today, it took patience from Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, as it wasn't until Roseman's eighth season at the helm that the franchise lifted its first Lombardi Trophy.
A longtime Eagles president sounded off on Roseman's strategic wizardry after the NFL trade deadline, as Philadelphia landed Miami Dolphins pass rusher Jaelan Phillips.
Former Eagles exec nails why Howie Roseman reigns supreme among NFL GMs
Joe Banner served as the Eagles' team president from 1995 through most of 2012. He saw Roseman begin as a front office intern in 2000 and witnessed his ascent to the GM role about a decade later.
In an interview on The Rich Eisen Show, Banner explained how the Jaelan Phillips trade speaks to Philadelphia's larger organizational philosophy that more teams around the NFL should adopt:
"I don't understand why there was no competing team that wouldn't offer the same third-round pick. [...] They know the math. Let's say you have the 20th pick or the 24th pick. The percentage of times you'll hit on the pick is exactly the same. [...] He got the player for nothing. Because the odds of the hitting on the same pick in the first round at 20 or 24 or 26 and 30 is the same. I don't know why every team the league doesn't know that, and manage their team is if that's just a fact."
The implication here is that Roseman, had he not had extra third-round picks to play with in the first place to trade for Phillips, would've just traded back in the draft order in exchange for a third-round pick. The odds of hitting between, as Banner states, the 20th or 30th pick don't change in any meaningful way.
Indeed, why are teams so precious about third-round picks? Chances are, an impactful designated pass rusher like Jaelan Phillips will be well worth the cost of a potential fringe starter from Day 2 of the draft.
Banner also noted how the Eagles are used to having eight or nine good defensive linemen, but entered the trade deadline with only six. No other team would've viewed Philly as needy at the position, but Roseman has a philosophy of building through the trenches. It's been a hallmark of his two Super Bowl-winning rosters.
NFL general managers have a fine line to toe. It's not often you see a GM get a second crack at the big seat. Recent Chargers and Raiders personnel chief Tom Telesco is a rare exception to that rule. Once you finally do make it to a GM post, do you play it safe and keep the bigger picture in mind as much as possible? Or do you go all-in as soon as you can to try to win a championship?
Most of us would like to think we'd skew toward Howie Roseman. It's one thing to say it in theory. It's another to execute the way Roseman has.
GMs don't often get the type of runway Roseman has, never mind the freedom to be so aggressive on the transaction wire. Regardless of the organizational climate, though, you can't help but respect Roseman's penchant for wheeling and dealing.
Read more:Eagles' Jaelan Phillips trade is yet another Howie Roseman all-in masterclass
Roseman is "fearless" and, according to Banner, has earned the benefit of the doubt on any trade he makes. I'd say that's a fair assessment.