The first round of the 2023 NFL Draft went down on Thursday evening, and the Philadelphia Eagles had themselves a night. Even before the draft began, it was announced by Adam Schefter on Twitter, that the Eagles settled a tampering investigation with the Arizona Cardinals involving the latter's hiring of the former Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. The terms of the settlement were the Eagles trading pick 94 of this year's draft and a 2023 fifth round pick to Arizona for pick 66 in this year's draft.
This was only the beginning of what turned out to be one of the most incredible first rounds for an NFL team in recent memory. Howie Roseman is well past being the General Manager that took JJ Arcega-Whiteside over DK Metcalf.
All it took was a 2024 Fourth Rounder??
When word got around that the Cardinals were looking to trade out of the third overall position, my mind immediately went to Roseman pulling off another big feat and trading up for Will Anderson Jr. But, what did happen was better than anything I could have expected. After the Houston Texans instead traded up for Anderson after taking their new quarterback, CJ Stroud, at second overall, I was waiting for Roseman to pounce on Jalen Carter. Trading up for a player that, in my mind, is the top overall player in all the draft, could've taken a haul to jump up a few spots from 10th overall. But, the former Georgia defensive lineman fell and fell and fell.
Then it happened, Howie Roseman, that magnificent man, somehow talked the Chicago Bears into taking a 2024 fourth round pick to trade back one spot. Part of me wonders how that conversation went and why he felt the need to even trade up just one spot. But maybe he just wanted to be sure the Bears didn't snipe him, and knew the Bears are building for the future.
Nonetheless, the Eagles got their guy and they didn't have to give up any stock in this year's draft. That pick in itself was already a massive win for Philadelphia, adding another insanely talented former Bulldog defender and current DAWG to the already stacked defensive line.
What dirt does Roseman have on the rest of the league?
Somehow Roseman keeps getting away with stuff that no one should get away with. This time, he didn't have to do anything. The Eagles held the 30th pick in the first round as well, and for whatever reason - which I guess was because of the pectoral injury he ended last season with - no one wanted to take Nolan Smith. I understand teams being scared of the injury that ended his season, but the man is a freak who jumps off film. Given that, for the second straight year, two former Bulldog defenders fell right into Philadelphia's laps. Smith is essentially a Haason Reddick clone and is capable of playing multiple positions on the defensive front.
The Eagles' front seven now includes the likes of Reddick, Josh Sweat, Jordan Davis, Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, Nakobe Dean, Carter and Smith. No one and I mean NO ONE, is stopping that. If anyone does, they deserve some kind of medal. The Eagles are also the perfect spot for a guy like Carter who has some character concerns. The locker room in Philadelphia is second to none and the veteran presence of Graham and Cox will do wonders for the kid.
Main image credit: From Getty Images
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