Eagles GM admits 'bias' toward wanting to pick legacy prospect in NFL Draft

The Eagles have a young and exciting inside linebacker room, highlighted by Nakobe Dean and Devin White, the No. 5 overall pick in 2019, who signed with Philadelphia as a free agent in March.

However, there seems to be a strong chance Philadelphia will add to the room in the 2024 NFL Draft. General manager Howie Roseman revealed how tempting it could be to draft a legacy player at the end of April.

"I'm biased towards our hometown players," Roseman said according to Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith. "I'm biased towards the people who have legacy with this franchise. So I think that's hard. ... Just trying to make the best decision for the Philadelphia Eagles and not making an emotional decision."

Roseman seems to be referring to Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr., the son of former Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. His father was a third-round pick by Philadelphia in 1998 and played eight seasons with the team.

Trotter Jr. could now follow in his father's footsteps as he is projected to be selected in the third round. The Clemson product currently ranks as the fourth-best linebacker and No. 96 overall prospect on Pro Football Focus' big board.

Whether Trotter Jr. was the son of a former Eagle or not, he's still an intriguing prospect. The 21-year-old registered 176 tackles, 12 sacks, three forced fumbles, four interceptions and two touchdowns that past two seasons.

Athletic inside linebackers are necessary in today's pass-heavy league, and Trotter Jr. certainly fits the bill. His ties to Philadelphia are just a plus.

"It's hard not to want to keep guys who have Philly ties, who understand what it's like to play here," Roseman added. "It's a plus to bring someone in this atmosphere who understands what it's like ... it's different versus people who haven't experienced before."

It's safe to say Roseman will be fighting his inner bias in a little over a week, but it wouldn't be surprising if Trotter Jr. is an Eagle when it's all said and done.