NFL | Hold off on those Executive of the Millennium awards just yet

by Jack Kerwin | [email protected]

​Love the guts.

Really do.

That Eagles de facto GM Howie Roseman had the stones to do whatever it took to get in position to select the guy he wanted most of all in the 2016 NFL Draft says a lot about the conviction he now has to his own beliefs. In a cut-throat business, and, believe it or not, professional sports qualify, especially at that billion-dollar-industry level, it’s a trait that could prove highly beneficial to the Birds.

In trades, contract negotiations, future drafts, you name it.

But let’s hold off on anointing him Executive of the Millennium a few months into his second shot at running the club’s player-personnel show just yet.

There was a price tag attached to Howie wheeling and dealing his way to the No. 2 pick Thursday night, seemingly while channeling his inner Steve Stifler, and, frankly, it’s a lot bigger than those dancing along Delaware Avenue seem to grasp.

Not for nothing, but in his quest to make North Dakota State quarterback/massive question mark Carson Wentz the next face of the franchise, whatever that really is, Roseman parted with quite a few, umm, possessions belonging to the Birds.

When the dust settled after deals with Miami and then Cleveland allowed them to maneuver all the way from 13th to right behind the Los Angeles Rams in the draft’s first-round pecking order, the Eagles were in the hole three starting players and three picks – a third-rounder tonight, next year’s first-rounder and a second-rounder in 2018.

Plus, all of that, not to mention merely the expected selection of Wentz, unearthed a soap opera with current starting QB Sam Bradford that, at best, will result in a rocky locker room all next fall or, at worst, the Eagles having to unfurl Wentz from one-season protective bubble wrap in order for him to play, ready or not, because Chase “2 Starts” Daniel is the only veteran signal-caller on the roster with, uh, experience.

Irony is, Roseman never should have been buried by anyone – media, fans or owner Jeffrey Lurie – his first time around as GM. He proved more than capable in contractual scenarios, and certainly nothing less than the league average with drafting or free agency.

That was unnecessary overkill, the likes of which has only been surpassed by the recent misguided, all-hands-on-deck attacks directed at Bradford’s character and toughness.

But now it’s going too far the other way.

​Comically so.

Indeed, Howie is now proclaimed the leader, the linchpin behind it all, that Eagles Nation always needed.

Yep. Without a single return to date on the massive investment that, thus far, is his greatest claim to fame.

Apparently, guts really do get the glory.

You know, just so long as Wentz doesn’t fall flat on his face of the franchise.
​

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FIRST ROUND FIRST TAKE

Initial impressions with projections
on those selected Thursday night at the 2016 NFL Draft in Chicago:

GRADING SCALE

​BOOOM!!! = Superstar in the making
​Boom = Good career, Pro Bowler
​Blah = May stick, but nothing special
​Bust = Bust

1. Jared Goff, QB, California
LOS ANGELES RAMS  |  Blah
2. Carson Wentz, QB, N. Dakota State
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES  |  Bust
3. Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS  |  Blah
4. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
DALLAS COWBOYS  |  BOOOM!!!
5. Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS  |  Boom
6. Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
BALTIMORE RAVENS  |  Blah
7. DeForrest Buckner, DE, Oregon
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS  |  Blah
8. Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan St.
TENNESSEE TITANS  |  Bust
9. Leonard Floyd, LB, Georgia
CHICAGO BEARS  |  Bust
10. Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
NEW YORK GIANTS  |  Blah
11. Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS  |  Boom
12. Sheldon Rankin, DT, Louisville
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS  |  Blah
13. Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
MIAMI DOLPHINS  |  Bust
14. Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia
OAKLAND RAIDERS  |  Boom
15. Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
CLEVELAND BROWNS  |  Blah
16. Taylor Decker, OL, Ohio State
DETROIT LIONS  |  Blah
17. Keanu Neal, S, Florida
ATLANTA FALCONS  |  Bust
18. Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS  |  Blah
19. Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
BUFFALO BILLS  |  Bust
20. Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State
NEW YORK JETS  |  (Slight) Boom
21. Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
HOUSTON TEXANS  |  Boom
22. Jock Doctson, WR, TCU
WASHINGTON REDSKINS  |  Blah
23. Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
MINNESOTA VIKINGS  |  Boom
24. William Jackson III, CB, Houston
CINCINNATI BENGALS  |  Boom
25. Artie Burns, CB, Miami (FL)
PITTSBURGH STEELERS  |  Blah
26. Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
DENVER BRONCOS  |  BOOOM!!!
27. Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA
GREEN BAY PACKERS  |  Blah
28. Joshua Garnett, G, Stanford
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS  |  Blah
29. Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
ARIZONA CARDINALS  |  BOOOM!!!
30. Vernon Butler, DT, La. Tech
CAROLINA PANTHERS  |  Boom
31. Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS  |  Blah