PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Eagles came away with nine players in the NFL Draft — among them, most notably, Heisman Trophy-winning Alabama receiver DeVonta Smith. But what's catching the most attention is an awkward-looking exchange ESPN caught between General Manager Howie Roseman and Senior Football Advisor Tom Donahoe following the third-round selection of Louisiana Tech defensive tackle Milton Williams.
Tuesday morning, Roseman offered some insight into Donahoe’s apparent displeasure. (Listen below at 06:50.) And later in the day, Donahoe evidently told ESPN his thoughts on that moment.
On The WIP Morning Show, Roseman told host Angelo Cataldi that at that point in the draft, the Eagles had their eyes on two defensive lineman. "Different flavors," he said. "One’s a three-technique. One’s more of a nose tackle."
After trading down three picks from 70 with the Carolina Panthers, Roseman was confident that one of those two players, who the new coaching staff were fond of, would still be available when the Eagles' turn came, because Carolina had indicated that they were taking an offensive player.
Roseman said the nose tackle was off the board by the time the Eagles picked at 73. So, with the Giants trading up for UCF corner Aaron Robinson at 71, and the Detroit Lions taking NC State defensive tackle Alim McNeill at 72, it may be deduced that McNeill and Williams are the two unnamed defensive lineman Roseman referred to.
Evidently, Donahoe wanted McNeill instead of Williams, though the Eagles coaching staff plainly loved landing Williams.
"I don’t know that [Tom] preferred [McNeill]. You’d have to ask him," Roseman told Cataldi. "But there were so many times during the draft that a player we liked got taken."
According to the Inquirer’s Jeff McLane, Donahoe wanted McNeill and thought gaining a sixth-round pick to move back a few slots in the third round was unnecessary.
In the end, Roseman is playing the exchange off as harmless and not big deal.
"When you talk about the draft, and the passion people have in the draft in our building, … discussion and debate and having these conversations, it’s OK. You’d rather have that passion. Tom’s been here for a long time. We’ve been together for 10 years. Extremely close relationship. It’s OK to have tough conversations, and Tom and I have had a lot of them in 10 years, and that’s why you want people around you who aren’t gonna just tell you everything you’re doing is ok."
Donahoe apparently thinks his reaction to the Williams pick has been blown out of proportion, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, one of the most plugged-in and respected NFL reporters.
"That’s silly," Donahoe told Mortensen, per a tweet. "I didn’t even know I was on camera."
Mortensen reported that Donahoe thought Roseman and Andy Weidl, the VP of player personnel, had one of the best drafts the Eagles have experience over the past decade.