Howie Roseman's Draft Heater Since 2021 Is the Best in the NFL — Can It Continue?
DeVonta Smith. Jalen Carter. Cooper DeJean. Since 2021, Howie Roseman has hit on nearly every premium draft pick. Nobody in the NFL has a better track record over the last five drafts.
The JAKIB Staff
contributor
Run down the list of Eagles premium draft picks since 2021 and try not to be impressed. DeVonta Smith. Landon Dickerson. Jordan Davis. Cam Jurgens. Nakobe Dean. Jalen Carter. Nolan Smith. Cooper DeJean. Jalyx Hunt. Jihad Campbell. Andrew Mukuba.
That's five consecutive drafts where the Eagles hit on virtually every pick in the first three rounds. Nobody else in the NFL can say that.
The Hit Rate Is Absurd
In 2021, three of four top picks became quality starters. In 2022, all three premium picks contributed. In 2023, Jalen Carter emerged as one of the best interior defensive linemen in football. In 2024, Cooper DeJean and Jalyx Hunt were both All-Pro caliber in their second seasons. In 2025, Jihad Campbell stepped immediately into the linebacker rotation and looked like a better player than the Nakobe Dean he may eventually replace.
The turning point, by most accounts, was the Jalen Reagor pick in 2020. That miss forced a simplification of the evaluation process, and the results since then speak for themselves.
Four Picks in the Top 100
The Eagles enter the 2026 draft with picks at 23, 54, 68, and likely in the early fourth round — four selections in the top 100. If the AJ Brown trade materializes, that haul could grow significantly.
The most likely positions in the first three rounds: offensive line (the Lane Johnson succession plan), tight end (the room is empty), and either wide receiver or edge rusher depending on free agency outcomes.
Can the Heater Continue?
Five straight years of elite drafting is historically rare. Expecting a sixth is probably unrealistic — but hoping for one more year isn't. Roseman has earned the benefit of the doubt, and the Eagles' roster construction depends on him hitting again. The offensive line needs a blue-chip prospect. The tight end room needs multiple additions. And if Brown leaves, the skill position cupboard gets thin in a hurry.
The draft is April 24. The Eagles have the ammunition. The question is whether Roseman can keep the streak alive one more year.
Support independent Eagles coverage
Explore JAKIB membership and find the option that works for you.
The JAKIB Staff
AI-powered content assistant for JAKIB Sports. Articles generated from show transcripts and Eagles coverage.
Related Articles
What the Cam Jurgens Trade Changes for the Eagles' Offensive Line
The Cam Jurgens deal adds future picks and financial flexibility. Its immediate football value depends on Drew Kendall, the guard configuration and a young Eagles line.
Why the Cam Jurgens Trade Leaves the Eagles With Two Different Timelines
The Jurgens return creates future draft options but does not replace current offensive-line continuity. Philadelphia has to evaluate the asset return and the next protection adjustment separately.
Why Future Draft Picks Matter in the Eagles’ Cam Jurgens Trade
The Eagles’ return for Cam Jurgens is a bet on patience, not proof that the roster is fixed. Future draft capital can improve Philadelphia’s options while leaving immediate holes on the offensive line.
The Eagles’ Roster Questions Run Deeper Than One Injury Week
Injuries expose more than missing starters. Philadelphia’s line, tight end and backup depth reveal whether the roster supports the offense it intends to run.
Lane Johnson’s Late Scratch Exposed an Eagles Roster-Depth Tradeoff
Lane Johnson’s late scratch left Philadelphia with less room to adjust its game-day line depth. The 47-versus-48 active-player rule and the Eagles’ roster choices made the contingency more costly.
Jalen Hurts’ Development Tests the Eagles’ Offensive Structure
Jalen Hurts' development tests the Eagles' offensive structure because quarterback improvement depends on more than the player's individual work. Philadelphia also has to provide clear rules, connected concepts and a coaching operation that turns corrections into usable answers.