Howie is up to something because he has accumulated like 10 picks in the first 5 rounds of the 2026 draft so far
I wrote up why we did it on the Eagles board on why playing a rookie or a backup instead of CJGJ isn’t the end of the world:
We banked on unknowns stepping up from Nolan and Quinyon and Cooper and Zack and Cam and Isaiah and Nakobe last year. Part of normal team building is hoping unproven players prove themselves. Even when we are "loaded”, we have tons of guys that stepped up where no one expected them to. Playing inexperienced players isn’t just necessary, it’s the norm. The Chiefs do it every year, the Bills do it every year, the Ravens do it every year, the 49ers do it every year.
Think about what we didn’t know this time last year when we gave CJGJ his money:
Nakobe Dean broke out. He’ll get paid if he returns to form after injury
Zack Baun broke out, and got a monster deal.
Jalen Carter stepped up, was even better than rookie year and cemented a historic extension.
Nolan Smith stepped up and is a very likely extension on a big deal.
Cam Jurgens made the pro bowl in year one, assuring his big extension.
Quinyon Mitchell broke out right away and is now only 2 years away from breaking the CB market
Cioper Dejean broke out, he’s a likely extension too.
Saquon Barkley was so good, he was underpaid by the big contract we gave him. So he gets another extension.
Oh, and if Mekhi Becton comes back, move him to the very top of the list of improbable money Howie didn’t expect to have to spend.
if you asked the FO last year, they probably assume not even half of these things happen all in 1 year. CJGJ became very expendable, as did Goedert. We need to free up as much money as we can in the immediate future. Unless you think we should keep CJGJ over Baun? Or Smith? Or Jurgens?
Howie is not perfect, but he is the best GM in the NFL at adapting to new circumstances. Gotta break some eggs