As the reigning Super Bowl champions prepare for the 2025 NFL Draft on April 24, Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is already working the phones, exploring every angle to extract maximum value from the team's current position. Holding the 32nd and final pick in the first round, Roseman finds himself with a deceptively powerful asset-and a growing list of potential suitors.
While the 32nd pick may not carry top-of-the-round hype, it offers something that makes it uniquely valuable: the fifth-year option. First-round contracts allow teams to secure an extra year of control before players become free agents, giving clubs long-term flexibility-especially when selecting quarterbacks or developmental talents. For teams chasing that extra year of leverage, Philadelphia's position could be the key to their draft.
And Roseman knows it.
Several franchises stand out as logical trade partners for Philadelphia. The Seattle Seahawks, fresh off trading Geno Smith to the Raiders, sending D.K. Metcalf to Pittsburgh, and releasing Tyler Lockett, look ready to retool. Despite signing Sam Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million deal, the structure allows them to escape after one season. Seahawks insider Brady Henderson reported that Seattle has scheduled a top-30 visit with Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough-a signal they're still quarterback hunting. Jumping into the first round could give them a fifth-year cushion for development.
The New Orleans Saints are another intriguing option. New head coach Kellen Moore has yet to commit to Derek Carr or rookie Spencer Rattler as long-term answers. Landing a quarterback at No. 32-whether it's Shough or Ole Miss product Jaxson Dart-would allow Moore to begin molding a successor without facing immediate pressure. The fifth-year option would buy the Saints extra time during their transition under Moore.
And then there's the New York Giants. Division trades are rare, but not off-limits-especially not for Roseman. In 2021, the Eagles traded with Dallas to draft DeVonta Smith. Just last year, they made another NFC East trade that led to the selection of Cooper DeJean. The Giants, owners of two third-round picks (Nos. 65 and 99), are desperate for impact players after a 3-14 campaign. If they offered No. 65 and moved up two spots from No. 34 to No. 32, both teams could walk away happy. Philadelphia could likely still land its preferred prospect at 34 while adding one of the most valuable picks in the third round.
What makes Roseman dangerous on draft night is his ability to create leverage where others see limits. He doesn't just make trades-he manufactures them. By engaging multiple teams in negotiations, Roseman can play buyers off one another and extract better compensation than the draft chart would suggest.
It's a formula that's paid dividends before. Trading up for DeVonta Smith in 2021 and engineering a Day 2 deal to land Cooper DeJean in 2024 are prime examples of Roseman's draft-day wizardry. He rarely moves without multiple contingencies in place.
In this case, even if the Eagles don't move off the 32nd pick, they're in a win-win. They can grab a top-tier prospect who falls or use the selection as a chip to reload in future rounds. Either way, the pressure's on other teams to make the call.
The Eagles aren't drafting out of desperation-they're drafting from strength. That's the luxury of a well-constructed roster and a Super Bowl trophy. With a deep, veteran core and flexibility across the board, Roseman is free to act aggressively or patiently depending on how the board unfolds.
Don't be surprised if Roseman turns that 32nd pick into something much bigger-another opportunity, another starter, or another reason why Philadelphia keeps winning the margins. On draft night, the Eagles' final pick of the first round might just be the most dangerous one on the board.
