The Genius Of Howie Roseman Paying His Players Early
I am not the staunchest defender of Howie Roseman. I thought he deserved a lot more blame than he got for 2023. Nick Sirianni and the Coordinators took a lot of that blame from him, but I would remind you that it was Howie Roseman who hired all of them.
The point is, I am not one to pump Howie Roseman up for no reason. But there is something he does that I think is absolutely genius. He is routinely paying his players early. Sometimes it makes it look like he is overpaying guys, but it always benefits the Eagles in the end. Jordan Love becoming the highest-paid QB in the league is only the latest example of that.
Howie Roseman Got Ahead Of The Trend With Jalen Hurts
![TAMPA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 25: Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is seen on the field prior to a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on September 25, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. Eagles Super Bowl](https://975thefanatic.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2024/07/GettyImages-1701189390-5_1721422339_.jpg?w=1024)
When Howie Roseman made Jalen Hurts the highest-paid player in NFL history, some questioned if it was wise. Hurts had struggled in his first two seasons, but then had 1 great year where he was arguably the MVP and had the Eagles on the verge of a Super Bowl.
Was he overpaying for 1 great year? Did Hurts deserve that much money? None of those questions matter much anymore. A little more than a year later he is no longer the highest paid, 2nd highest paid, or 5th highest paid QB. The Eagles beat the Ravens, Bengals, and Chargers that offseason to pay their QB. Hurts quickly tumbled down the rankings of highest-paid QBs. This offseason, even more QBs have been paid.
After both Tua Tagvailoa and Jordan Love got paid this week, he is down to the 8th highest-paid QB. With Dak Prescott still awaiting a contract, Hurts will eventually be 9th. Then you have all the other young QBs that will get deals over the next few years. Soon Hurts won’t even be in the top 10.
I would say even after last year he is still top 10. But a survey of coaches, execs, and scouts around the NFL put him at 13. That is basically what he is being paid like now, just a year into his deal. Hurts at worst is being paid his fair value. If he gets back to his 2022 form, he is suddenly a bargain. All because Howie Roseman did not play games, and just paid his player early.
More Than Just QBs
![LANDOVER, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 29: DeVonta Smith #6 celebrates a fourth quarter touchdown with A.J. Brown #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles during a game against the Washington Commanders at FedExField on October 29, 2023 in Landover, Maryland.](https://975thefanatic.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2024/04/GettyImages-1763649259.jpg?w=1024)
QBs are not the only position where Howie pulls off this move though. This off-season we also saw him make Landon Dickerson, AJ Brown, Devonta Smith, and Jordan Mailata among the highest-paid players at their position.
When Smith signed, it made him the 4th highest-paid WR in the league. But he doesn’t start costing that until 2026. He is already down to 8th though with Justin Jefferson, Jaylen Waddle, and Amon-Ra St Brown getting paid in the couple of months since the Eagles signed Smith. He could soon be out of the top 10. Brandon Aiyuk, Cee Dee Lamb, and Ja’Marr Chase are seeking extensions, and putting pressure on their teams to pay up.
AJ Brown is still the 2nd highest paid WR. Again, that will change. He is a top 5 WR, or at least close. But he could easily fall out of the top 5 within a year or two.
The same goes for Dickerson and Mailata. The Eagles routinely are the ones setting the market, then watching teams beat that market. Something we can not say for two of the Eagles’ biggest rivals in the NFC.
Cowboys and 49ers Feeling The Pain of Waiting
![ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 12: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones walks the field before the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Arlington, Texas.](https://975thefanatic.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2023/12/GettyImages-1789980911.jpg?w=1024)
The Eagles started camp with no holdouts. All of their important players are there. We can not say the same for the 49ers and Cowboys.
Brandon Aiyuk is trying to force a trade. The 49ers don’t want to trade him, and he is still under contract and will eventually have to just suck it up and play. But having a disgruntled player around is not exactly the key to a well-functioning locker room. It is also not the best way to convince a player to stick around long-term. But unlike the Eagles, the 49ers did not just pay one of their best players early and keep him happy.
They also have LT Trent Williams holding out. Again, he will eventually report. But if it is not with a new contract, it will be another disgruntled superstar. The Eagles have their LT locked up long-term, even though he was not even due for a new contract yet.
The Cowboys have issues with 3 players. Dak Prescott, Cee Dee Lamb, and Micah Parsons all want new deals and are all putting pressure on the Cowboys in different ways. Dak and Micah are at camp, but still demanding a new deal. Lamb is holding out.
Lamb will eventually have to play. The fines for missing camp are one thing, and usually, the players who hold out get that money back. Holding out from games is something very few players ever do because the costs become real. But is that how you want to treat a guy though who should be a franchise cornerstone? Would it not be easier to just keep him happy?
Lamb, like Brown, is a top 5 WR. But Jerry Jones likes to play games and pinch pennies. He is more than willing to upset 3 franchise cornerstones to try and save a buck. The thing is, it won’t save him any money. History shows us the longer you wait, the more these guys will cost.
Jerry let every other team with a QB eligible for an extension beat him to the punch. Dak is not going to suddenly become less expensive. If Dak is in their future plans, he will now cost more than he would have had they paid him months ago. The same goes for Lamb and Parsons. Every other player that gets paid, makes their price go up.
Howie Roseman gets that. The 49ers and Cowboys don’t. Howie Roseman is consistently the one setting the market, those teams are stuck reacting to it.
That is something Howie deserves endless credit for. He has his flaws. We saw those flaws in full effect last season when he left the defense woefully undermanned. But Howie knows NFL Markets better than almost anyone.