Philadelphia Eagles executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman has been named the 2017 NFL Executive of the Year by the Professional Football Writers of America.
Here’s the explanation behind their selection:
The Eagles improved from back-to-back 7-9 records in 2015 and 2016 to a 13-3 mark this season as Philadelphia returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2013. Roseman has overseen the reshaping of a roster that included two separate trades that helped Philadelphia move up to select 2017 PFWA All-NFC team quarterback Carson Wentz in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, another trade that yielded 2017 first-round pick, defensive end Derek Barnett, who earned 2017 PFWA All-Rookie team honors, and solidified the team’s core by retaining key veterans. Prior to the 2017 season, he added to the team through free agency as the Eagles signed quarterback Nick Foles, defensive end Chris Long and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and made a pair of trades that netted defensive tackle Tim Jernigan and cornerback Ronald Darby. The Eagles also had three 2017 PFWA All-NFL selections: center Jason Kelce, offensive tackle Lane Johnson and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox.
Roseman is the first member of the Eagles organization to earn the PFWA’s NFL Executive of the Year award since it was established in 1993.
The award is well deserved.
I’ll admit it: I was among those wrong about Roseman. I was really skeptical of the Eagles’ decision to bring him back into power after Chip Kelly was fired.
The biggest criticisms of Roseman was that he was unable to acquire a legitimate franchise quarterback and a good coach. Well, he’s obviously done that now. Carson Wentz and Doug Pederson were fantastic in 2017.
Prior to the 2017 season, the Eagles were 56-56 since Roseman took over. They were also 0-2 in playoff games. That overall record has since improved to 69-59 after the Eagles went 13-3 in 2017. Roseman also notched his first career playoff win with the Eagles beating the Atlanta Falcons in the 2018 Divisional Round.
The Eagles appear to be in good hands moving forward with Roseman and vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas, whom Roseman hired in May 2016, leading the team’s personnel department.
In other news, Sean McVay won 2017 Coach of the Year. McVay certainly did a good job with the Rams, but I genuinely think Doug Pederson did a better job. Los Angeles didn’t have to deal with nearly as many injuries as the Eagles did. Plus McVay came in as a hot coordinator. People were intrigued by him. No one believed in Pederson.
It’s a joke if Doug Pederson doesn’t win Coach of the Year.
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) January 14, 2018
Better record than Sean McVay.
And he defeated Sean McVay.
And then he defeated the team that knocked Sean McVay’s team out of the playoffs. With a backup QB starting.
Give Dougie P some respect right now.#Eagles