Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Stories

Howie Roseman: The NFL’s Wizard of Trades

Credit-USA TODAY Sports/NBCUniversal

Howie Roseman, a few years ago, was relinquished of all control pretty much in this organization. He was put in the side of the building where I didn’t see him for over a year! Two years ago, when they made a decision, he came out of there a different man.”

Jason Kelce led off his now-infamous tirade with this statement.  And he was right in doing so.  Howie Roseman was forced into a salary cap management role when the Eagle’s former genius head coach took control of player personnel in 2015.  Now, he’s arguably the most important man in Philadelphia.

The 2017 Executive of the Year continues to outdo himself.  On Wednesday, he landed 3-time Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Bennett and a 7th round pick for a 5th rounder and a depth receiver.  Then, on Friday, he struck again.

This time swapping 29-year-old Torrey Smith for 23-year-old cornerback Daryl Worley.  Smith was likely to be a cap casualty anyway.  But Roseman managed to rid the Eagles of his $5MM contract while receiving a young, experienced player at a premium position.

Howie Roseman > Harry Potter

— James Seltzer (@JamesSeltzer) March 9, 2018

The 42-year-old GM is a master negotiator, salvaging every last drop of value for each player and pick.  He could probably even teach President Trump a thing or two about the “Art of the Deal”.

This week’s pair of trades isn’t the first time he’s shocked the football world with his astonishing returns.  Since the hiring of Doug Pederson in 2016, Roseman’s executed deals that pulled the Eagles out of the gaping hole dug by their previous head coach.

Leading up to the 2016 NFL Draft, he sent the underperforming duo of Byron Maxwell and Kiko Alonso, along with the 13th overall pick, in exchange for the 8th overall selection.  Roseman would go on to trade that selection, along with a small bundle of picks, to move up to #2 and take Carson Wentz.

Then, just before the start of the season, he flipped quarterback Sam Bradford to Minnesota for a 1st round pick, making up ground lost in the Wentz deal.  Here, Howie displayed impeccable timing, taking advantage of the Vikings’ panic and desperation following the Teddy Bridgewater injury.

Cancelling out same-round draft picks, this is what Howie Roseman has traded and received (per reports) just since 2017: pic.twitter.com/eM2W7xbPww

— Cody Benjamin (@CodyJBenjamin) March 9, 2018

This past season, he did it again.  When Jay Ajayi was rubbing coaches the wrong way in Miami, Roseman gave them a call.  This time, he flipped them a 4th rounder acquired from New England for Eric Rowe.  A small price to pay for a top-tier running back.

And, not to stop there, Howie Roseman even saved a man’s life.  In a deal that would send long snapper/magician Jon Dorenbos to New Orleans, team doctors discovered an aortic aneurysm requiring immediate surgery.

Dorenbos came out alright and, thanks to Roseman, is getting sized for a Super Bowl ring.

Written By

Division III baseball alum (McDaniel College), founder of Joker Mag, and author of The Underdog Mentality: Sports Stories That Will Change How You See the Game (And Yourself). Since launching in November 2017, my stories have been featured on platforms such as FOX Sports, SB Nation, and The Sporting News, reaching over 1.5 million readers worldwide. The seed was planted way back in 7th grade when I got cut from the baseball team. Instead of giving up, I found hope and inspiration in stories of undersized athletes who defied expectations. I ultimately played baseball through college, earning Honorable Mention on the All-Centennial Conference team in my senior season. Today, my mission is simple: To share stories that give people the same feeling I felt when I was that undersized ballplayer searching for hope, inspiration, and evidence that my dream was possible. Like my mom always told me, you can do anything you set your mind to. Sometimes we just need a little extra push. And that’s why I’m so passionate about sharing these stories with the world.

Related

Baseball

Cut three times in high school, this former junior college walk-on ignored the doubters and “bugged” his way into pro baseball.

Interviews

After beating cancer, Aaron Rouselle is doing the unthinkable and inspiring teammates half his age.

Basketball

“When the accident happened, I was thinking like: ‘What am I going to do now?’”

Baseball

Eight MLB teams turned him down – including the one that eventually signed him. Here's how it happened.