Eagles Notes: Roseman, Graham, Draft

Prior to being reinstalled as the Eagles’ top decision-maker following an eventful and dysfunctional 2015 Philadelphia campaign under Chip Kelly, Howie Roseman feared he wouldn’t receive another opportunity to call the shots for a team, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The current Eagles GM met with former executives who made the transition to television, per McLane, before his fortunes changed and the organization ended up siding with him over Kelly.

This turned out to be the second straight eventful offseason for the franchise after it made trades to acquire Carson Wentz and deal away Sam Bradford, and McLane estimates owner Jeffrey Lurie being patient with Roseman this time around. Both the 41-year-old GM and Wentz’s deals expire after the 2019 season, although the rookie quarterback has a fifth-year option, and McLane envisions neither being permitted to enter their walk years without an extension. Under Roseman’s direction from 2010-14 and this season, the team is 47-42 with three 10-win seasons — but no playoff victories — so the exec’s future is inextricably tied to Wentz, who is the fourth Eagles QB to start a season in the past seven years.

Here’s more coming out of Philly as the team prepares for a crucial tilt against the Seahawks.

• As the Eagles venture to Seattle, their top pass-rusher could find himself in the same position the Seahawks’ best option does. Brandon Graham will enter the third season of what now looks like an incredibly team-friendly four-year, $26MM deal agreed to during Kelly’s run, and NJ.com’s Eliot Shorr-Parks argues the team should reward Graham with a new deal in 2017. Michael Bennett‘s regretted the four-year, $28MM pact he agreed to in 2014, and Graham — currently the third-highest-paid edge-rusher on his own team behind Vinny Curry and Connor Barwin — potentially could soon after breaking out upon being moved to defensive end. Only Von Miller and Aaron Donald have more pressures and sacks combined than Graham’s 46, and with the spree of extensions Roseman’s handed out this year, the franchise has shown it’s willing to reward its own. While redoing a contract less than halfway through it would set an interesting precedent during the Roseman 2.0 era, Shorr-Parks writes a new accord could lessen the 28-year-old Graham’s $7.5MM cap hit next season for a team that’s seen those 2016 re-ups leave it with barely $5MM in cap space come 2017.
• Philly’s still gunning for a playoff spot despite low expectations for 2016, but Shorr-Parks notes cornerback is squarely atop the team’s needs hierarchy going forward. The Eagles traded Eric Rowe to the Patriots and will see Nolan Carroll‘s contract expire after the season, leaving the team with Jalen Mills, an aging Leodis McKelvin and UDFAs at the position going forward. Although the Eagles selected Rowe in the second round, Philadelphia hasn’t taken a corner in the first since Lito Sheppard in 2002.
• Roseman’s extension string continued with the team locking up three role players — special-teamer Chris Maragos, punter Donnie Jones and long snapper Jon Dorenbos — on Friday.
• Bennie Logan could be next in line for one as well in a scenario that would make it easier to list the Eagles who didn’t receive an extension.