The 2025 NFL Draft is officially in the rearview mirror. Onto wave two of free agency and the commencement of teams' off-season programs.
Howie Roseman and the Eagles were extremely busy over draft weekend, making four trades and drafting ten players. Of the ten players picked, only four were on the offensive side of the ball: three offensive linemen and one quarterback. Six total coming on the defensive side of the ball, including two linebackers, an edge rusher, an interior defensive lineman, a safety, and a cornerback.
With all these picks, it is time to dive into the winners of this draft who are currently on the Eagles roster.
1. Dallas Goedert
Goedert has been the focal point of Philadelphia fans and media attention over the last month. With little guaranteed money left on his contract and entering the final year of his deal, many pegged him as a clear trade candidate. Despite the Harrison Bryant and Kylen Granson free-agent signings, Goedert's job was clearly not at risk based on free-agent moves alone.
The draft left the door wide open for Goedert to play out the final year of his contract or work out an extension. Not only was Goedert not traded. The Eagles didn't draft a tight end, and none of their undrafted free agents were tight ends. There is still a lot of offseason to go, and Goedert could still be traded.
Howie Roseman has noted the Eagles love Goedert, and they don't appear ready to pander to the media with a public show of the situation. Ian Rapoport noted on day three of the draft that they would “like to keep him”. Only time will tell, but at this time, he is a clear Eagles winner of the draft.
2. Jahan Dotson
Dotson is a polarizing figure among fans and media alike. Unfortunately, for those who think the Eagles should move on, he came out as a major winner post-draft. So far, the Eagles have opted to add one wide receiver in free agency. Terrace Marshall has 808 receiving yards and 1 TD over four years in the league. They then decided to forgo addressing the position together during the draft. Then, the Eagles went on to add undrafted free agent Taylor Morin, who appears poised to push more for a return specialist job in camp than a significant wide receiving role, similar to Britain Covey.
The WR3 role on this Eagles roster hasn't appeared to be of significant value or felt like a need to Roseman. It is understandable, considering of 261 targets to wide receivers in 2024, 186 or 71% went to AJ Brown and Devonta Smith. In 2023, the statistic was similar with 270 of 336 targets, or 80% going to Brown and Smith.
Considering the WR3 is arguably the fifth option in the offense, this feels like a position that fans and media see as more of a need than the Eagles themselves do. They will also look to continue developing 2024 draft picks Ainias Smith and Johnny Wilson through Dotson's final season under contract with the Eagles.
3. Tyler Steen
Steen was pegged to be the starting right guard at the outset of the off-season last year. Then, Mekhi Becton signed with the Eagles, and a training camp competition emerged. Unfortunately, Steen suffered an injury during camp that allowed Becton to run away with the job. Becton earned himself a significant payday thanks to Stoutland University.
Steen is the current front runner for the right guard job, and the draft did little to quell that assumption as the Eagles drafted two tackles and a center.
Now, is that to say one of the tackles isn't kicked inside to develop beside Lane Johnson? It's possible. At this juncture, it appears more likely they are auditioning for the Fred Johnson swing tackle role or a depth role to develop in. Kenyon Green was also brought in, who has the feeling of Becton, who could sneak the job away from Steen if given the opportunity. Based on the draft, Steen remains at the top of the depth chart, and the direct competition remains the same.