For all of the excitement and high expectations surrounding Eagles first-round draft choice Carson Wentz, the team's Vice President of Football Operations Howie Roseman says that the quarterback is coming into the NFL with something to prove.
"He's got that mid-western humility," Roseman said Monday on 97.5 The Fanatic. "But he has that chip on his shoulder to prove everyone how good of a player he is."
For Roseman, the tipping point of the organization going 'all-in' on drafting Wentz was actually at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, when the North Dakota State product separated himself from the competition in the eyes of the front office.
"We were interested all along," Roseman admitted. "But once you saw him in person and you go back to the Combine and all of us went down to the floor to watch these guys throw ... There were some guys who we were interested in, before we saw them throw live. It changed our opinion because we're not playing in sunshine and warm weather. We have to win in December, and in tough conditions.
"The quarterback we bring in here isn't necessarily the same quarterback we would bring in if we were in Miami, Tampa or you pick the city. We gotta find the best fit for the Philadelphia Eagles. We have to find what's right for our team and our city. Not what's right for somebody else."
Playing at North Dakota State and passing for 45 touchdowns and 14 touchdowns in his collegiate career, while winning two FCS National Championships, Wentz certainly showed the requisite grittiness to win in the harsh conditions of the northeast.
Even after an impressive showing both at the Senior Bowl and the Combine ahead of the NFL Draft, the Eagles still needed to be sure that Wentz had the ability to succeed in the NFL, and Roseman shared some insight into the due diligence the organization did to ultimately decide he was worth the investment.
"The first time you watch him on tape in the fall and see all the things that translate," Roseman said. "Then, you go to the questions first. 'Why can't he? What can't he do?' So, you continue the process and when you see him live for the first time at the Senior Bowl and you see how the ball comes out of his hands and you see how he takes over the huddle, coming in with no hesitation at this level, the athleticism, the intelligence, meeting him ."
Roseman stressed that it is going to take time for Wentz to reach his full potential, but it was important for the Eagles to move up in the draft to take Wentz because of the number of teams that will be shopping for future franchise quarterbacks in upcoming drafts and a limited number of potentially elite signal callers to fill those needs.
"You go through the process and he checks all the boxes through the whole process. You sit here before you make the trade and ask yourself 'Why wouldn't he be successful?' Not, 'why would he?' Then you put the trust in the coaching staff and the evaluations here, the trainers, the strength and conditioning staff and all the support that he will get and you say to yourself 'Why not?'"
Matt Lombardo may be reached at MDLombardo@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter: @MattLombardo975 and Facebook. Find NJ.com Eagles on Facebook.