Eagles Siriani and Howie Says “They are Never Opposed to Drafting a Player High Only to Have Them Sit for a Year”

Before the 2024 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles will undoubtedly need to address their cornerback position. However, they may decide to wait until the second or later round and instead select Lane Johnson’s replacement in the first round.

 

 

 

Earlier this week, general manager Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni made it plain that they had no problem with picking a player high and having them sit for a year.

They did it in 2022 when they selected Cam Jurgens, who would eventually replace Jason Kelce at center, with the 51st overall pick.

 

 

“Coaches are made of that,” Sirianni remarked (via Jimmy Kempski of the Philadelphia Voice). “I always have to think about how we win the next game.” I believe Howie is also attempting to win the upcoming game.”

“Aw shucks,” Roseman shot back.

“But you’re also thinking about the long-term success of it,” Sirianni stated. “Howie did a great job explaining that. How can we impart the knowledge we want football players to have? We permitted them to study the greats.

In fact, Kelce served as a scout for the Eagles, helping to select his eventual replacement. Before starting as the starting right guard for the Eagles in 2023, Jurgens spent a year learning under Kelce and the other veterans.

 

 

 

But the Eagles don’t go into the draft with the mindset that a player they select won’t touch the field at all.

 

 

 

 

 

“We don’t go and say, hey, we are redshirting guys, even when we drafted Cam,” Roseman said. “We are drafting these guys not with the intention, like these guys are never going to play, and obviously if you have a great starting lineup and they don’t play, well, that must mean there are good things happening, too.

“But we are not sitting there going, hey, we don’t expect any contributions. We still have to build depth on this team. We are still going to need players that are on the sideline on day one that are going to have to contribute for us to get to where we want to go.”

It ultimately will all depend on how the picks fall when they’re on the clock at No. 22.

The waiting and guessing is almost over as the draft kicks off this upcoming Thursday in downtown Detroit.