The Philadelphia Eagles entered roster cutdown weekend facing difficult decisions, including the release of all three seventh-round selections from their 2025 NFL Draft class. It seems an easy guess to assume that must have been gut-wrenching for a team that places such a heavy emphasis on drafting and developing talent.
A closer look adds extra layers to a fascinating story. If anything,the Eagles' initial 53-man rosterserves as another example of why Howie Roseman has earned a reputation as one of the NFL's better talent evaluators. The first sign is impossible to ignore.
30 of the 53 players were drafted by Philadelphia
Building a contender in today's NFL requires more than drafting well. Teams must identify which players deserve second contracts, supplement the roster through free agency,
and continually replenish depth. Even with those realities, nearly 57 percent of Philadelphia's initial 53-man roster consists of players the organization drafted itself.
That number speaks to both scouting and development. Draft picks aren't merely being selected; they're sticking. The Eagles continue to find contributors throughout the draft while creating an environment that allows those players to grow into meaningful roles. The result is a roster built largely from within, something few championship contenders can consistently claim.
Only one first- or second-round pick from the last seven drafts isn't on the roster
Every player taken in Round 1 or Round 2 since the 2020 NFL Draft is still on the roster. Jalen Reagor is the only exception. The second-round selection in that same draft was franchise quarterback Jalen Hurts.
That level of retention is difficult to achieve in a league where draft misses can derail roster-building efforts for years. While not every first- or second-round selection has developed into a star, the overwhelming majority have become contributors, starters, or valuable depth pieces. For all the attention Roseman receives for splashy trades and free-agent signings, the foundation of Philadelphia's success continues to be built through the draft.
Three starters (or potential starters) were drafted by Roseman in Round 3 or later
The Eagles' success extends well beyond the opening rounds. Two expected offensive starters were drafted by Howie Roseman in Round 3 or later: Tyler Steen and Jordan Mailata. Jalyx Hunt, one of Roseman's mid-round additions, is also expected to start on defense.
Three players he added through free agency who were originally drafted in Round 3 or later are also expected to start by Week 1: Dontayvion Wicks, Zack Baun, and Riq Woolen. Two more, Marcus Epps and Jonathan Greenard, are expected to start at some point this season.
Then there's Moro Ojomo, a seventh-round selection who has developed into a valuable contributor and is expected to position himself for a significant payday when his rookie contract expires. Finding stars in the first round is equally important.
Building a championship-caliber roster often depends on finding value everywhere else. Time and again, Roseman has demonstrated an ability to uncover talent beyond the draft's headline-grabbing selections.
The irony is that releasing three seventh-round picksmay actually strengthen the argument. The Eagles were able to part with those players because the roster is already filled with successful draft investments from previous years. It's also possible that those three 2026 seventh-round picks (Cole Wisniewski, Uar Bernard, and Keyshawn James-Newby) will return to the practice squad.
Roseman has spent the better part of a decade proving that roster construction isn't about hitting on every pick. It's about hitting on enough of them to make difficult decisions possible. Philadelphia's initial 53-man roster suggests he's still doing exactly that.
The Eagles' initial 53-man roster serves as another reminder that Philadelphia's success isn't built solely on premium picks. It's built on repeatedly finding contributors throughout the entire draft board.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: 3 major signs of Eagles GM Howie Roseman's continued drafting success
