The secrecy surrounding the NFL Draft and the media’s role in team strategy has always been shrouded in secrecy. But more often than not, you’ll get nuggets from team executives letting you know that they hear/what’s said in the media.
Following a busy Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft, where the Philadelphia Eagles drafted DB Cooper DeJean (Iowa) and edge rusher Jalyx Hunt (Houston Christian), executive Howie Roseman revealed a surprising source of influence — Daniel Jeremiah’s big board.
Roseman referenced the NFL Network draft analyst’s big board when discussing the Eagles’ selection of Hunt, the 94th overall pick in this year’s draft. After trading No. 86 to the San Francisco 49ers, who selected Kansas interior offensive lineman Dominick Puni, the Eagles received picks Nos. 94 and 132 and waited patiently to see if Hunt would still be there late in Round 3.
Between picks Nos. 86-93, the Eagles had to sweat out a team jumping them for the Houston Christian pass-rusher. However, the only other defensive end that went off the board was Penn State’s Adisa Isaac, who the Baltimore Ravens chose at No. 93.
While the Eagles got their guy, that doesn’t mean Roseman wasn’t nervous. In fact, according to Brandon Lee Gowton of SB Nation’s Bleeding Green, the Eagles’ top decision maker suggested he was nervous a team would take Hunt earlier than 94th based in part on where Jeremiah had him ranked on his big board—64th overall.
Howie Roseman referenced Daniel Jeremiah’s big board while discussing the Jalyx Hunt pick.
Howie suggested he was nervous a team make take Hunt earlier based in part on where DJ had him ranked (64th overall). #Eagles
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) April 27, 2024
Roseman jokingly admitted he wanted to text Jeremiah, a former Eagles scout, and tell him to hide Hunt by removing him from the top of his best available players.
Howie said he wanted to text Daniel Jeremiah and tell him to delete Jalyx Hunt’s ranking towards the top of DJ’s best available players on the broadcast so he could still be on the board for the Eagles.
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) April 27, 2024
That drew a response from Jeremiah.
Hahahaha!!! https://t.co/iT5N9YVny2
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) April 27, 2024
So, yes, if you’re wondering, the NFL Network broadcast was on in Philadelphia’s war room. NFL executives are just like the rest of us, yelling at the TV to inform the broadcasters and analysts that they shouldn’t point out that player x is among the best available as if other teams don’t have draft rankings themselves.
Luckily for the Eagles, other teams seemed less impressed with Hunt than Jeremiah and the Eagles’ own evaluation. Based on some of the Eagles’ past scouting victories, this could prove to be a savvy pick, considering Roseman’s history of unearthing hidden gems in the draft.
[Brandon Lee Gowton on X]
