It’s officially Howie SZN.

Some tend to view the entire offseason as our yearly Howie SZN, but the draft is always when that phrase comes to my mind. Especially now as the Eagles enter the 2025 NFL Draft with 20(!) picks over the next two drafts, including eight next weekend.

As I listened to Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni’s pre-draft press conference on Tuesday, I came away convinced at the direction the Eagles will go in the first round next Thursday night.

We’re getting a trade up from the Eagles.

While sitting back and seeing how the board falls is certainly possible, Roseman did not come off as the kind of executive that was prepared to do it in the first round. Let’s connect some dots.

When asked about how many first-round talents are in this class, Roseman didn’t mince word: “There are never 32 first-round grades on your board. We don’t have 32 first-round grades in this draft.”

Interesting. Instead of spinning it to say “we're excited about where we are picking, and there will be a very good football player there,” Roseman made it clear that the Eagles don’t view this class like that. He followed it up with a story of last year’s board falling their way, and used the word luck. Roseman is too smart to bank on luck again. My guess: The Eagles have a certain number (maybe 15-20) first-round grades in this draft. If (or when) one or two of those players fall past pick No. 20, the Eagles will be on the phone making their own luck.

Roseman also talked about the value of draft picks, including to use in trades, and the kind of roster he currently has: Star-heavy, win-now. Sure, the Eagles need cheap, young talent to add into the fold. But with 20 draft picks over the next two years, there’s a surplus to move.

Also worth noting: Time and circumstance could lead to a trade up.

Unlike 2018 (the last time the Eagles picked 32), I don’t see a quarterback class that teams will mortgage a ton to get up to the final first round pick to secure. Sure, maybe Jalen Milroe is a kid a team (like Baltimore in 2018) falls in love with. I just see a trade back as far less likely than it was seven years ago.

Plus, if the league is zigging one way, Roseman could see value in zagging the other.

My prediction, one week-ish out: The Eagles trade up from No. 32 into the low-to-mid 20s to select a pass rushing defensive tackle (Derrick Harmon, Walter Nolen come to mind) or the top edge (Donovan Ezeiruaku) left on their board.

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