Philadelphia Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman indicated that the team is not finished addressing the safety position, suggesting further roster construction is pending.

Roseman acknowledged that the safety room is currently unsettled, mirroring an evolving perspective he recently shared regarding the tight end position. On February 20th, he noted his growing appreciation for versatile tight ends who can both block and receive effectively.

Evolving Evaluation of the Safety Position

The GM suggested his evaluation process for safeties might be shifting similarly. Last year, the Eagles invested a second-round pick, 64th overall, in safety Drew Mukuba.

The current safety depth looks uncertain following the departure of Reed Blankenship in free agency and the trade of Sydney Brown to the Falcons. Veteran Marcus Epps is back, providing experience to the unit.

Current Roster Uncertainty and Additions

The team also added J.T. Gray, primarily known for his special teams contributions, as he has played a maximum of 41 defensive snaps in a single season over his eight-year career.

There are also internal possibilities, such as Michael Carter potentially transitioning from cornerback to safety, a position he played while at Duke. Additionally, the team hopes Andre Sam can make a significant leap from the practice squad.

Roseman's Confidence in Second-Year Growth

Speaking to reporters at the owners’ meetings in Arizona this week, Roseman emphasized internal development within the position group.

"It starts with using our second-round pick on Mukuba,” Roseman stated. “See a lot of growth from the first to second year, and expect that from him. Really excited about him.” He added confidence in the returning and newly signed players to contribute.

However, the GM was candid that the safety position is still actively being built. "We don't play for a long time … and we still have a draft, we still have a lot of players that are available," Roseman commented.

Future Additions Expected

Roseman confirmed that the team intends to bolster the unit further. "More players will become available after the draft. ...In some shape or form, we will add at that position.”

The upcoming draft presents several viable safety prospects on the first two days. While drafting a safety in the first round is unlikely, given the franchise's history, Roseman's view on the position's importance appears to be aligning with the evolving landscape of the game, similar to his stance on tight ends.

Potential Draft Targets

  • Day 1 Targets (Hypothetical): Ohio State’s Caleb Downs, Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman, and Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
  • Day 2 Options: USC’s Kamari Ramsey, TCU’s Bud Clark, LSU’s A.J. Haulcy, South Carolina’s Jalon Kilgore, and Penn State’s Zakee Wheatley.