Eagles Draft Report Card: 3 Years of Howie Roseman Picks Graded

It's the time of year when draft season kicks into high gear, and before we start projecting who Howie Roseman will take in 2026, let's look at his recent track record. We're grading the Eagles' 2023, 2024, and 2025 draft classes with the benefit of hindsight, and the results are a mixed bag that tells you everything about how this front office operates.

Watch the full draft breakdown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2LSFp9T700

Let's start with 2023. The headliner was Jalen Carter at third overall, and that pick looks like a home run. Carter has developed into one of the best interior defensive linemen in football — dominant against the run, increasingly disruptive as a pass rusher, and still just 25 years old. Grade: A+. Nolan Smith at 30? We just talked about him. Through three years, he's been a rotational player who hasn't justified first-round capital. Grade: C-. Third-rounder Tyler Steen was moved to guard and has been serviceable depth. Grade: B-.

The late-round gems in 2023 were Sydney Brown (safety, third round) and Kelee Ringo (corner, fourth round). Brown has developed into a reliable starter when healthy, though his injury history is a concern. Ringo has been a solid special teams contributor who's flashed in limited defensive snaps. Overall 2023 class grade: B+, carried heavily by Carter.

The 2024 class is where things get interesting. Quinyon Mitchell in the first round was a slam dunk — the corner out of Toledo has been arguably the best young defensive back in the NFC. He's got lockdown potential and plays with a physicality that belies his size. Grade: A. Cooper DeJean in the second round has been versatile and productive, playing both slot corner and safety. Grade: A-.

The middle rounds of 2024 were hit or miss. Some developmental guys who haven't broken through yet, and a couple who are already off the roster. The late-round dart throws produced one keeper in a special teams ace. Overall 2024 class grade: A-, an excellent haul led by the secondary investments.

The 2025 class is still too early to fully evaluate — these guys have only played one season. But first impressions matter, and the early returns are encouraging in some spots, concerning in others. The first-round pick has shown flashes but hasn't been a Day 1 impact player. The mid-round picks have contributed on special teams and in rotation. Grade so far: Incomplete, but leaning B.

So what does the three-year picture tell us about Howie Roseman? A few things. First, he's excellent at identifying defensive talent in the first round. Carter and Mitchell are franchise cornerstones. Second, he struggles with edge rushers — the Smith pick continues to look like a miss, and the team hasn't adequately addressed the position through the draft since. Third, his late-round hit rate is about league average, which is fine but not the strength some Eagles fans believe it is.

The biggest criticism of Roseman's drafting is the lack of offensive skill position investment. The Eagles have relied heavily on free agency and trades for their offensive weapons — Brown, DeVonta Smith (traded up for), Saquon Barkley (free agency). That's worked, but it's also expensive. At some point, you need to develop cheap offensive talent through the draft to maintain the roster's competitive window.

Looking ahead to 2026, the needs are clear: edge rusher (again), offensive line depth (with Johnson aging), and potentially a receiver if Brown is traded. Roseman has picks to work with and a track record that suggests he'll nail the first round. The question is whether the rest of the draft produces contributors or just bodies.

Overall three-year grade for Howie Roseman's drafting: B+. The top-end talent is elite, but the depth picks and position-specific whiffs (looking at you, edge rush) keep it from being an A. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, that's good enough — but Roseman knows it could be better. This April is his chance to prove it.

The 2026 draft could define the next era of Eagles football. No pressure, Howie.