When Howie Roseman, Joe Douglas and Doug Pederson left the war room and came down to talk to reporters at the NovaCare Complex just after 7:30 on Saturday night, the trio was all smiles.
Maybe they were just delirious from the three-day marathon of the draft, but it seems more likely they're still enjoying the honeymoon phase of the relationship. Less than a year into Douglas' time with the Eagles, the three of them seem to be getting along great and having a grand ol' time.
Saturday wrapped up the first draft with the three of them — more accurately Roseman and Douglas — at the helm. Things seemed to go smoothly, but like the first year in any process, there will probably need to be some refinement.
"I think we'll go back and we'll look at this process a little bit and we'll sit down over the summer, probably over a beer and a cigar, and we'll talk about it all," Roseman said with a laugh as he looked at Douglas and Pederson for their approval. "How does that sound?"
"That sounds great," Douglas answered.
It'll take a few years for the world to accurately judge the Eagles' 2017 draft class.
For now, though, we can already scan the list of eight names and the way everything went down during the three days and see the influence of both men charged to lead the future of the organization. And if the relationship doesn't sour, it's easy to see how their styles can complement each other.
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"[They are] great guys to work with and be a part of, and our philosophies have really kind of combined, and hopefully it pays off on the field," Roseman said.
Like he's been known to do over the years, Roseman pulled off a flurry of trades on Day 3. He traded picks 139 and 230 for 132, then traded 155 for 164 and 214, then traded 164 and 194 for 166 and 184. After the dust settled, Roseman had the same number of picks (eight) but ended up plus-8 based on the draft value chart, which, in value terms, means the Eagles picked up an extra mid-sixth-rounder.
And the move to snag Sidney Jones, Achilles injury and all, in the second round was also classic Roseman. More than anything, including questionable decisions, Roseman's draft calling card has been using unique ways to maximize value.
Then there was Douglas' influence. The Eagles took high-character, high-compete-level players who produced in college. It didn't take long to figure it out either. His fingerprints were all over the Derek Barnett selection at 14 (see story).
"Since Joe has been here, the things that he stressed to [the scouting staff] when we met and talked about what we wanted this team to look like, is that it's the war-daddy mentality of having guys on the field who are going to do whatever it takes to get better," Roseman said on Thursday night. "Guys who have an incredibly high motor and tremendous character."
When asked if that was a departure from the past, Roseman said it wasn't ... just more of an emphasis.
For months, the Eagles preached the importance of collaboration — owner Jeff Lurie used it as a buzzword at the owners' meetings — and made a concerted effort to get Douglas in camera frames alongside Roseman. Lurie, in Phoenix in March, revealed that one of the terms for Roseman's regaining control of football operations, which includes personnel, was that he needed to build a top-notch personnel department.
That started with the hiring of Douglas and his deputy, Andy Weidl, last May.
"It was outstanding," Douglas said of his first draft with the Eagles. "This is a great place from the top down. There are so many good people in this building in every department. It was great just getting to know everybody. The working relationship has been outstanding. The communication, daily, has been outstanding. Have we always agreed on everything? No. But at the end of the day, we've always been able to step back and do what's right for the Philadelphia Eagles, and that's the No. 1 thing."