Howie Roseman’s Questionable Drafting Leaves The Eagles Thin At Key Position

Author Pat Egan

September 13th, 2022 7:53 AM

No. Before you get angry this is not another bashing of Howie Roseman and his draft history. Its simply an observation. On Monday the Eagles announced that Defensive End Derek Barnett will be out for the season after tearing his ACL. While Barnett has been a disappointment, and most fans weren’t thrilled to see him resign, he plays one of the few positions that the Eagles were thin at. The Eagles couldn’t really afford to lose the depth that Barnett provided. But why? Why is it that the Eagles are so thin at a position that usually is a strength?

The Eagles have usually had a decent pass rush, but in recent years that seems to have gone by the way side. Gone are the days of guys like Trent Cole getting double digit sack totals from the DE spot. But its because they havent invested in the position. They havent signed a top level defensive end, and also havent drafted well at the position which leaves them in a hole after this injury.

Since 2016 the Eagles have drafted 8 defensive ends in the draft. Out of those 8, 2 were converted to LB. Out of the remaining 6 who stayed at the position only 3 are still on the team. Those picks were

Alex McCallister (2016, 7th round pick)

Derek Barnett (2017, 1st round pick)

Josh Sweat (2018, 4th round pick)

Shareef Miller (2019, 4th round pick)

Casey Toohill (2020, 7th round pick)

Tarron Jackson (2021, 6th round pick)

Patrick Johnson* (2021, 7th round pick)

Kyron Johnson* (2022, 6th round pick)

BOLD = Still on the team. * = Now a LB

So out of those 8 defensive ends that were drafted, only ONE was in the top 3 rounds of the draft. Guys like Shareef Miller and Casey Toohill never played a down for the Eagles. Miller was a complete bust and is now out of the league while Toohill was put on waivers and picked up by Washington.

The Eagles hit on Josh Sweat in the 4th round back in 2018 and he earned a contract extension. He was tied for the team lead in sacks last season with 7.5. He is their best pass rusher and the hope is he gets up to a double digit sack total this season. But here is how bad its gotten for the Eagles in the DE position.

In 2020 Brandon Graham led the team in sacks with 8.

In 2019 Brandon Graham led the team in sacks with 8.5

In 2018 Fletcher Cox (a DT) led the team in sacks with 10.5. Michael Bennet led all DE in sacks with 9.

In 2017 Brandon Graham led the team in sacks with 9.5.

In 2016 Fletcher Cox led the team in sacks with 6.5. Brandon Graham led all DE in sacks with 5.5

In 2015 Fletcher Cox led the team in sacks with 9.5. Brandon Graham led all DE in sacks with 6.5

In 2014 Connor Barwin led the team in sacks with 14.5. Vinny Curry led all DE in sacks with 9.

In 2013 Trent Cole led the team in sacks with 8. Vinny Curry led all DE in sacks with 4.

In 2012 Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham led the team in sacks with 5.5.

So for the last decade it has either been Brandon Graham, or Fletcher Cox. Two aging vets who are on their way out. With no real pipeline to speak of. That’s troubling.

The Eagles have two first round picks in the upcoming 2023 NFL draft. The Eagles cant find themselves in this situation again. The Eagles need to address the position high in the draft, and HIT on it. They cant keep ignoring the position and hoping they strike gold in the later rounds. Howie has really done a 180 with his drafting. He no longer seems to be thinking hes the smartest guy in the room. He addressed the defensive line with Jordan Davis but now he needs to put someone next to him. The Eagles cant afford to treat the defensive end position like theyve treated the linebacker position.

Go Birds

Fly, Eagles, Fly…. On The Road to 600

• Win #1 – November 5, 1933 – Philadelphia Eagles (6) at Cincinnati Reds (0)

  The start of the Eagles franchise did not start too promising. They lost their first three games by a combined score of 116-9. It was not until the fourth game that they put it together (barely) enough to win their first game. They defeated a Cincinnati Reds football team that lasted only two seasons, with 1933 being the finale.

  The Eagles and Reds were deadlocked at zero until the last couple of minutes of the game. In the drizzling rain, head coach and co-founder Lud Wray decided to try some trickery to win the franchise’s first game. On fourth and goal from the Reds 9-yard line, the Eagles Roger Kirkman took the snap and handed it to Halfback Jack Roberts. Roberts took off to the left but handed it to Temple University Alum, Halfback Swede Hanson, who cut around the right end for the game’s only touchdown. It was the start of an outstanding career for Hanson, who became the leading rusher in team history until Hall of Famer Steve Van Buren joined the team.

• Win #100 – December 13, 1953 – Cleveland Browns (27) at Philadelphia Eagles (42)

  The Eagles were only four years removed from winning back-to-back NFL championships when they took on the undefeated Otto Graham-led Cleveland Browns at Connie Mack. It was the first loss of the season for Paul Brown and the team with his namesake. Two weeks later, they lost to the Detroit Lions in the NFL Championship. That is a championship game we won’t see again anytime soon.

  The Browns had a 10-0 lead after the first quarter. The Eagles got on the board in the second quarter when Pete Pihos took a 15-yard pass from Bobby Thomason to cut the lead to 10-7. The Birds scored again and went into halftime with a 14-13 lead.

  Pete Pihos Philadelphia Eagles 1951.

  Pete Pihos Philadelphia Eagles 1951. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

  At the start of the third quarter, the Browns took the lead for the last time on an 8-yard touchdown connection between Otto Graham and Ken Carpenter. After that, it was all Eagles. They scored the next four touchdowns to finish off the Browns.

  Quarterback Bobby Thomason finished the game with 331 yards passing and three touchdowns.

• Win #200 – December 9, 1973 – New York Jets (23) at Philadelphia Eagles (24)

  In the midst of one of the worst stretches in team history, the Eagles came from behind to win their fifth game of the season against an equally bad New York Jets team at Veterans Stadium.

  The Jets started the game strong, taking a commanding 17-0 lead before the Eagles scored. The Eagles got on the board before halftime with a two-yard touchdown reception by Don Zimmerman. In the third quarter, the Eagles got the offense going. Eagles legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael took a pass from Roman Gabriel down the left sideline for a 62-yard touchdown. After trading field goals, Cornerback John Outlaw intercepted Al Woodall and returned it for a 45-yard pick-six.

  Harold Carmichael finished the game with five receptions for 146 yards and a touchdown.

• Win #300 – November 6, 1988 – Los Angeles Rams (24) at Philadelphia Eagles (30)

  The first place Jim “Don’t Call Me Chris” Everett led Los Angeles came into Veterans Stadium on a two-game winning streak and a 7-2 record. Buddy Ryan’s Eagles were coming off a loss and a 4-5 record.

  After trading field goals and touchdowns, the game was tied at 10 going into halftime. The third quarter ended up being the deciding quarter in the game. The Eagles outscored the Rams 10-0 with a 37-yard Randall Cunningham to Keith Byars hookup and a 50-yard Luis Zendejas field goal. The Eagles scored the first touchdown of the 4^th quarter before the Rams attempted a comeback with back-to-back touchdowns. Zendejas kicks another field goal for the last score of the game.

  This was the start of a four-game winning streak (six of seven) and earning a spot in the playoffs. The Chicago Bears and some dense fog ended the Eagles hopes of a playoff run.

• Win #400 – October 15, 2000 – Philadelphia Eagles (33) at Arizona Cardinals (14)

  The Eagles were in the beginning stages of a highly successful run of success under the leadership of Andy Reid when they took on the Arizona Cardinals at Sun Devil Stadium. The Eagles dominated the game from start to finish. The Eagles were up 24-0 with just under five minutes left in the third quarter before the Cardinals scored on a Jake Plummer to David Boston 70-yard touchdown. The Cardinals never had a chance.

  Quarterback Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles looks down the...

  Quarterback Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles looks down the line during the NFC championship game against the Arizona Cardinals on January 18, 2009 at University of Phoenix Stadium in... Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

  The Eagles were proficient, and Donovan McNabb managed the game well. He passed for 226 years with a passing and rushing touchdown. Darnell Autry led the rushing attack with 64 yards and a touchdown. Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor picked off Jake Plummer to lead the defense.

• Win #500 – September 19, 2010 – Philadelphia Eagles (35) at Detroit Lions (32)

  During the game against the Packers the week prior, quarterback Kevin Kolb suffered a concussion which ended his career with the Eagles. Michael Vick took over and never looked back. In his first start as the Eagles quarterback, Vick led them to their first win of the season.

  Halfway through the first quarter, Vick showed a glimpse of what was to come by hooking up with DeSean Jackson on a 45-yard touchdown. This game was full of big plays—the teams combined for over 850 total yards. After Jacksons’ touchdown, the Lions scored the next seventeen points, capped off by a Jahvid Best 75-yard touchdown reception. The Eagles scored the next twenty-eight points, including a 46-yard romp by LeSean McCoy. It looked like the Eagles had the game wrapped up, but the Lions scored two touchdowns in the last 4:30 of the game to pull within three. The Eagles were able to run the clock out to secure the victory.

  Michael Vick finished with 284 yards passing with two touchdowns. The Eagles all-time leading rusher, LeSean McCoy, rushed for 120 yards and three touchdowns. DeSean Jackson had four receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown.

• Win #600 – September 11, 2022 – Philadelphia Eagles (38) at Detroit Lions (35)

  It didn’t take long in 2022 for the Eagles to get that one victory needed to reach 600.  The Eagles held a 17-point lead at one point and almost gave it away toward the end.  The game was ugly for the most part, but the Birds came out on top.  You can read a detailed description of the game here if you forgot already.

  The road to 600 had many difficulties, but there were also many great memories. There was the merging with a cross-state rival for a season because of World War II. There was a guy named Chuck that played both sides of the ball and was tougher than concrete. The New York Giants can tell you how many miracles there were. Even a bartender came off the streets and made the team. We will never forget when a backup quarterback filled in for the then future of the franchise and led the team to the promised land. All we can hope for is the next 100 wins provides some great memories. Go Birds!

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Author Pat Egan

Category:

• 97.5 The Fanatic
• Eagles
• Eagles // NFL