A recent survey in The Athletic polled NFL agents on a number of topics including COVID-19, Colin Kaepernick, the offseason, and their thoughts on front offices around the league. When asked "who is the smartest" general manager or front office leader, Eagles GM Howie Roseman received the most most votes. Here is what an anonymous agent had to say about Roseman:
"If I was gonna go into the lab and build a GM, it's a guy that can deal with the media, a guy that knows personnel and a guy that knows money. Those are the three things. Howie Roseman is a guy who I think is very good with the media from what I can tell. I know that he knows the money game very well. And I've known him for 15-18 years and he's worked incredibly hard to learn football and how to evaluate to the point now where he's really good. I give him a lot of credit that he can handle all three parts of the job."
That's high praise coming from someone close to Howie. However, the prevailing opinions among the agents surveyed paints a negative light on Roseman. The other anonymous agent quoted on this topics credits Howie with knowing how to put a team together and his "chess move" abilities but also makes sure to say "I'm not a huge fan. I will say that, as well."
Roseman's also received votes for another question on the survey: among general managers or front-office leaders, whom do you trust the least? Bill Belichick, John Elway, and Bill O'Brien all were voted ahead of Roseman, but the indicting sentiment is his cut-throat mentality.
"Just look at his career path. He's pretty much pulled the rug out from underneath everybody that ever got close to him in Philly. And when he does, Howie's gonna do his best for Howie. He's proven that year after year after year."
Of course, these perspectives are coming from the other side of the negotiating table. There are bound to be hard feelings between agents and general managers. It still is notable the amount of respect agents have for Roseman's team-building abilities and the recognition as one of the smartest front office minds in the NFL.
