As the dust settles on what can only be described as a mass exodus of talent from the Philadelphia Eagles, fans are left wondering whether General Manager Howie Roseman's aggressive youth movement will translate to continued success or signal the beginning of a painful rebuild.
The Eagles, fresh off their Super Bowl LIX victory and a jubilant parade up Broad Street, have watched player after player depart this offseason. It's been a difficult pill to swallow for Eagles Nation, especially after reaching the pinnacle of NFL success just weeks ago in New Orleans.
This approach isn't without precedent. After the Eagles' Super Bowl LII victory, Roseman attempted to keep the championship roster intact, allowing emotion to influence contract decisions for aging veterans. The result? An aging roster that slowly declined, going 22-25-1 in the three seasons following their championship-only the 20th-best record in the NFL during that span.
The 2017 Eagles were the eighth-oldest team in football. By 2018, they had aged to the third-oldest, and the decline was underway. While they managed a wild-card win in Chicago, the 2018 and 2019 teams both finished 9-7 before bottoming out in 2020 with a disastrous 4-11-1 record that cost Doug Pederson his job.
Roseman appears determined not to repeat history. His plan this offseason has been clear: stockpile draft picks, avoid signing free agents, get younger, trust the kids, and leverage the compensatory pick formula.
This approach is partly necessitated by the Eagles' cap situation but is also driven by Roseman's belief that painful roster decisions are necessary to maintain competitiveness. According to Spotrac, the Eagles currently have the second-youngest roster in the NFL-and that still includes 34-year-old Darius Slay and 32-year-old James Bradberry, who remain on the books due to post-June 1 designations. By June 2, Philadelphia could easily have the youngest roster in the league.
The strategy hinges on young players stepping into more prominent roles while on affordable rookie contracts. Players like Kelee Ringo, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Jalyx Hunt, Sydney Brown, Tyler Steen, and Moro Ojomo will be expected to fill the gaps left by departing veterans.
Of course, this approach carries risk. Nobody knows if Brown can adequately replace C.J. Gardner-Johnson, if Trotter Jr. can fill Oren Burks' shoes until Nakobe Dean is ready, or if Ringo can take over for Slay.
What Roseman has accomplished, however, is assembling an impressive war chest of draft picks. The Eagles have accumulated 19 picks over the next two drafts, with seven in the first three rounds. Departing players have turned into valuable draft capital-Williams brought back a third-rounder, Sweat a fourth-rounder, while the Kenny Pickett trade netted a fifth-round pick in this year's draft.
For 2025, the Eagles currently hold single picks in the first, second, third, and fourth rounds, plus four fifth-round selections. Looking ahead to 2026, they have single picks in the first and second rounds, three third-rounders, two fourth-rounders, two fifth-round selections, and one pick each in the sixth and seventh rounds.
For this strategy to succeed, the Eagles must continue their recent drafting success. Seventeen of the 18 players Roseman has drafted in the first four rounds since 2021 have developed into key contributors-an impressive hit rate that must continue.
The only projected starters who will be in their 30s on opening day are Lane Johnson-widely regarded as the best right tackle in football-and Dallas Goedert, who just turned 30 in January and may not even remain with the team. On defense, the oldest projected starter is Zack Baun, who recently turned 28.
While it hasn't been an easy offseason for Eagles fans to endure, Roseman has still managed some key moves. He signed Baun, extended Saquon Barkley, accumulated draft picks, and cleared cap space to eventually extend young cornerstones like Jalen Carter, Reed Blankenship, and Cam Jurgens.
The Eagles' recent run has produced a 39-12 record with two Super Bowl appearances over the last three years. Roseman clearly believes this approach gives Philadelphia the best chance to extend that success rather than watching another championship team slowly age into mediocrity.
Related: Eagles Reveal Plan To Replace C.J. Gardner-Johnson
As other NFL teams overpay for fading veterans-32-year-old Davante Adams joining the Rams, 31-year-old Grady Jarrett signing with the Vikings, or 34-year-old Morgan Moses heading to the Patriots-the Eagles are zigging while others zag.
It's a painful strategy to watch unfold, but if history is any indication, betting against Howie Roseman's long-term vision would be unwise.
Related: Eagles' Free Agency Silence Targets 2026 NFL Draft
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This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 9:00 PM.
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