Howie’s Biggest Mistake as Eagles GM
By now you know the news the Rams have traded a 2020 and 2021 1st round pick along with a 2021 4th round pick for All-Pro Cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Our pipe dream is dead. A lockdown corner who can shut down the opposing team’s number one receiver threat without the need of safety help over the top was ready to fall from the heavens into our laps.
Jim Schwartz and the secondary wouldn’t have needed to gameplan to stop the top receiver on the other side of the ball, just man Ramsey on him all game. Plus, without having to give Ramsey safety help, Malcolm and Rodney could be used in different ways, like sending them in on more blitzes, or giving Rasul and Maddox(or whoever’s playing slot) more help, or even leaving them more in the middle of the field to help against the run. Third it would have helped the pass rush, which has been struggling all season long. Locking down a QB’s number 1 option and then allowing the rest of the secondary to lock in the rest of the receiving core would lead to routes taking longer to open up and giving the Eagles front more time to get home and pressure opposing QB’s. It’s amazing the trickle down effect one guy would’ve had on a team but I think everyone (even the Eagles players who run to Josina Anderson) saw the potential this move created for our defense.
Two 1sts and a 3rd may seem like a lot, but let’s look at the players in the secondary Howie has drafted in the past. Trevor Lindley in the 4th, Jaiquawn Jarrett in the 2nd, Curtis Marsh in the 3rd, Earl Wolff in the 5th, and Sidney Jones in the 2nd (but don’t worry he really would’ve been in the 1st). None of those names have produced remotely anything positive for the Eagles. Jones is still young but from what we’ve seen he wasn’t worth that 2nd round pick, the hope is dwindling.
Howie has hit on a couple corners, Jalen Mills in the 7th was great value, Rasul Douglas in the 3rd is good value if he continues to improve, and Avonte Maddox in the 4th is still up in the air, but we’ve seen a lot of positives from him. Now, looking at 1st round selections Howie (and front office brass) has made: Brandon Graham, Danny Watkins, Fletcher Cox, Lane Johnson, Marcus Smith, Carson Wentz, Derek Barnett, and Andre Dillard. There are some obvious hits here with BG, Cox, Lane, and Carson. But all of these picks were in the top 13. The later 1st rounders, which we hope and project the Eagles will be picking at for the next two years, have been mostly misses. Danny Watkins and Marcus Smith were complete busts. Derek Barnett hasn’t proven to be worth the mid 1st round pick, and it’s still too early to judge Andre Dillard, although we get our first taste this week.
Given the Eagles draft history and talent evaluation, especially at the cornerback position, I can almost guarantee the Eagles 1st round picks in 2020 and 2021 aren’t going to be Jalen Ramsey caliber players. This is the reason Howie not pulling the trigger and getting Jalen Ramsey is his worst move as Eagles GM. We’d be having a different discussion if Howie and the Eagles front office had a successful history of getting talent late in the 1st round and had a strong history of evaluating and drafting corners, but that’s not the case. We can’t be hypocritical and bash Danny Ainge while also not looking in the mirror ourselves. The Eagles are in a win now mode with an aging roster, only the Patriots have an older roster than the Eagles. Trading for Jalen Ramsey would’ve somehow brought in youthful energy without sacrificing the “win now” idea. Not going after Jadeveon Clowney, even when the price was small was one thing, but not trading for Jalen Ramsey was Howie’s biggest mistake he’s made since coming to Philadelphia. In today’s pass heavy NFL, a shutdown corner is arguably the most important position on the defensive side of the ball. The Eagles had an opportunity to get a 24 year old, two time Pro Bowler who would be the cornerstone of this defense for years to come and chose not to. When we look back at this time the decision to not go get Ramsey could be one of the worst moves an Eagles front office has made in recent history.