Howie Roseman is nearly unrecognizable these days.
Over the last year, the Eagles have done things that they normally don’t do.
Philadelphia made Saquon Barkley the highest-paid running back in NFL history. They extended Zack Baun on a deal that placed him squarely among the league’s highest-paid linebackers.
Of course, Eagles fans remember this time a year ago when Eagles general manager Howie Roseman surprised fans and media alike when he made the decision to select Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Roseman then proceeded to shatter all preconceived notions about his drafting philosophy when he moved up in the second round and selected another defensive back in Iowa’s Cooper DeJean with the 40th overall pick.
The philosophical pivots have undoubtedly worked out. Both Mitchell and DeJean were defensive rookie of the year finalists, and Philadelphia won a Super Bowl.
But as such in life, with success comes sacrifice.
“I’m not asking anyone to feel sorry for us,” Howie Roseman said in February at the NFL Scouting Combine.
“It’s probably not going to look like maybe the [way] conventional wisdom thinks it should look,” Roseman continued. “When I look at some of the decisions that we have to do, we’re going to have to trade off in some other areas.”
It’s no shock that they parted ways with 34-year-old Darius Slay, which freed up $4.3 million. Elsewhere, they lost more starters, key contributors, and a franchise legend.
Slay, Milton Williams, Josh Sweat, Isaiah Rodgers, and Mekhi Becton all found new homes. Brandon Graham closed the book on his NFL career.
For Roseman, he has to keep both the now and the future in mind. It’s the cost of doing business.
Jalen Carter will make North of $30-$35 million a year. Nolan Smith will soon be up for an extension. A decision on Jordan Davis needs to be made. Cam Jurgens is due for an extension.
“You have to continue to evolve,” Roseman said. “Everything we’re doing is about keeping as many good players as we possibly can under contract going forward. It gets challenging as you have more players making a lot of money. We talked about it last year, how younger players are part of that process. …Going forward, that’s going to be more than the norm. Every player we sign is going to have to come from somewhere. So that means it’s going to open an opportunity for a younger player. Everything we do going forward is going to have to be taken from somewhere. We talk about how it’s like a layer cake. You build this base, and then you build on top of it and on top of it. We’re at a point where some of those layers are going to have to come out. And when we build on it, we’re going to make decisions.”
And so far, they’ve tried. They’ve added bargain signings on both sides of the ball in Josh Uche, Azeez Ojulari, Matt Pryor, Kendall Lamm, and A.J. Dillon, to name a few.
But at cornerback, it’s an interesting paradox.
Philadelphia added veteran corner Adoree Jackson on the 2nd day of free agency. They drafted Kelee Ringo in the fourth round in 2023 (and traded a future third-round pick to do so). Ringo has waited in the wings to compete for a starting spot since.
But neither player should be looked at as the sure-fire, unquestioned starter opposite Mitchell.
Jackson will be 30 years old in September, and sure, he’s started 82 games in his career, but it isn’t a stretch to say he’s somewhat of a declining player. Last season with the Giants, Jackson played a career low 47% of the defensive snaps. He’s being coached by Vic Fangio and Christian Parker, so anything is possible, but it’s a depth signing through and through.
Behind Jackson and Ringo, the group consists of Eli Ricks, Parry Nickerson, Tariq Castro-Fields, and A.J. Woods. In other words, an unproven bunch.
None of the above players should halt the Eagles from addressing the position.
Internally, the Eagles know they need to improve the position, but they realize they can’t spend big money or trade a high pick to improve the position, and they don’t want to put all their eggs in baskets that aren’t proven commodities.
With the aforementioned financial land mine that their navigating, it makes sense as to why they’ve been sniffing around the cornerback market.
Philadelphia has hosted Kentucky’s Maxwell Harrison, Ole Miss’s Trey Amos, Kansas State’s Jacob Parrish, and potential day 3 target Korie Black on 30 visits, and Philadelphia doesn’t waste 30 visits.
The pre-draft interest means something, and it matters. And it’s notable because all three players fit a similar archetype.
Harrison is a fringe first-round, likely day two pick. At 5-foot-11, 183 pounds, he’s a bit more on the slender side, but he makes up for it with his play speed and absolute maniac style of play. Harrison is a high-IQ competitor who’s physical and fast. He ran a 4.28 40-yard dash.
Amos is the most likely of the bunch to go in the first round, and depending on how the board falls, could potentially be a candidate at 32 (emphasis on how the board falls). At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, Amos possesses the requisite size to be a capable plug-and-play, day 1 contributor. It also helps that he ran a 4.43 40-yard dash and has deep Rolodex of coverage versatility.
As a senior who’s spent time at 3 different universities (UL Lafayette, Alabama, and Ole Miss), Amos has played (and been effective in) a ton of coverage schemes. Specifically in zone (quarters/cover 3), his vision and disruption shine. Amos also isn’t afraid to get physical. He might be the ideal selection if the Eagles opt to go corner early.
Parrish is a fringe day 2, early day 3 candidate. He’s also the shortest of the bunch at 5-foot-10, 190 pounds. But, like Harrion, he more than makes up for it with his play style. He’s a high-IQ, fluid mover who has inside/outside versatility. His lack of size tends to make him overly aggressive at times, but that might be my favorite trait.
Parrish’s competitiveness might be my favorite thing about him, as his physical and aggressive nature, both in coverage and run support, pop off the screen when you watch him. I can’t help but think of the infatuation Philadelphia had with Trent McDuffie in 2022 when I wonder how they view Parrish internally.
Lastly, Philadelphia hosted Korie Black on a 30 visit. Black, who didn’t earn an invite to the Combine, is most likely a day 3 candidate. He shined at the Big 12 Pro Day, and SEVERAL teams are interested. Black ran his 40-yard dash in the 4.35-4.39 and (pro day numbers) and posted a 39″ vertical. At an even 6-foot, 190 pounds, Black has ideal outside corner size. He’s mostly flown under the radar, but his production over the last two years is notable. In 2023, Black was targeted 35 times in coverage and allowed a 45.7% completion rate. In 2024, he amassed 28 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 9 pass break-ups.
While he most likely isn’t a sure-fire day 1 starter, Black fits the mold for what the Eagles are looking for in a starting outside cornerback opposite Quinyon Mitchell —> High motor, High IQ, physical, instinctual, and ultra competitive.
You can never have too many corners, and even though they drafted two early last year, Philadelphia is clearly looking to re-stock the cupboard. The answer to whether it will be another early selection or a later selection remains to be seen, but as the draft approaches, the answer will reveal itself in due time.
The Philly Blitz 
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