Is this the best Eagles draft?
What can you take away from a preseason game in which both teams tried to show as little as possible against their opening-week opponent? Well, one thing that has stood out during the preseason has been the play of the Eagles' rookies.
Is this the best Eagles draft?
What can you take away from a preseason game in which both teams tried to show as little as possible against their opening-week opponent? Well, one thing that has stood out during the preseason has been the play of the Eagles' rookies.
Which led to a question in the Eagles' chat during Friday's game: Is this the best Eagles draft class ever?
When considering that question, one massive caveat is needed: time changes everything. At some point, many Eagles' draft classes looked promising, particularly in the preseason when the draft picks are playing against the second, third, and maybe even fourth teams.
Remember the praise heaped on 2007's class of Kevin Kolb, Victor Abiamiri, Stewart Bradley, Tony Hunt, and C.J. Gaddis. Yeah, well, the best of that class was Brent Celek, who was picked after all of those guys.
Still, this year's draft class has been impressive—and it doesn't even include undrafted rookie Damaris Johnson, the team's starting punt returner who is a lock to make the team.
With yet another stellar game by Johnson and Nick Foles (3rd round), here are one man's rankings of the best Eagles draft classes since 1960. This year's class is included in the rankings…for now.
1973: Jerry Sisemore (1st), Charle Young (1st), Guy Morriss (2nd), Randy Logan (3rd), Joe Lavender (12th)
1986: Keith Byars (1st), Anthony Toney (2nd), Seth Joyner (8th), Clyde Simmons (9th)
2002: Lito Sheppard (1st), Michael Lewis (2nd), Sheldon Brown (2nd), Brian Westbrook (3rd)
1987: Jerome Brown (1st), Byron Evans (4th), David Alexander (5th), Ron Moten (6th), Cris Carter (a supplemental pick who was Hall of Fame-caliber when he played elsewhere)
1979: Jerry Robinson (1st), Petey Perot (2nd), Tony Franklin (3rd), Max Runager (8th)
2005: Mike Patterson (1st), Todd Herremans (4th), Trent Cole (5th)
2011: Danny Watkins (1st), Alex Henery (4th), Dion Lewis (5th), Jason Kelce (6th), Brian Rolle (6th)
2012: Fletcher Cox (1st), Mychael Kendricks (2nd), Vinny Curry (2nd), Nick Foles (3rd), Brandon Boykin (4th), Bryce Brown (7th)
The fans' take
What do Eagles' fans think of the team's preseason? Here are the best comments from Friday night's in-game chat.
When it appeared Nick Foles might start the second half: "Who would have thought at the beginning of the year that we would be worried about Nick Foles getting hurt? (from BobPhxville)
More on Foles:
"I saw Foles take one hit, while he had quite a bit of pressure around him while he played tonight. He is avoiding hits by moving his feet and throwing the ball, keeping his head looking downfield for his receivers. Vick doesn't do that. Take a look at Foles' TD pass to Celek…. He progressed thru his reads, went to Shady, to the receivers on the far side of the field, avoided a defender and passed to Celek for a TD. I have never seen Vick progress thru his reads like that. (from Cork)
Jaiquawn Jarrett was a popular target during the chat:
"Jaiquawn Jarrett is not a very good football player, maybe athletic but I don't see a single bit of instinctiveness in his game. It's frightening. He looks lost out there, always late or a step behind. (from Jon ft Washington)
- HOW ABOUT A GROUND RULE DOUBLE FOR THE 2002 DRAFT. CAN WE RESERVE THE GRAND SLAMS'S FOR THE STEELER'S MEAN JOE GREENE DRAFT, OR A COUPLE OF BILL WALSH'S OR JIMMY JOHNSON'S DRAFTS.
— bedpan - God forbid there is an article that allows fans to give their opinion on past drafts. Where would the Negadelphians post their comments otherwise? Lighten up. Have some fun. Don't tear others down to make yourself feel superior.— Commish
- SPEAKING OF FUN, IT IS EVEN MORE FUN WHEN YOU DEAL WITH FACTS AND REALITY. YOU SHOULD TRY IT SOMETIME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF. FOR EXAMPLE, JIMMY GRAHAM WAS TAKEN 3 PICKS AFTER DANIEL TEO NESHIM. NOW, THAT IS REALITY. AND, JUST IMAGINE HOW MUCH FUN IT WOULD BE WATCHING JIMMY GRAHAM (MOST RECEPTIONS IN A YEAR BY A TE ALL TIME) PLAY EACH SUNDAY. — bedpan
- Facts are more fun? Gee, you must be a riot at parties. And stop yelling. You are embarrassing yourself. — Commish
- "yelling". I DON'T HEAR ANYTHING. — bedpan
- Off the top of my head 1998 draft was better than 05, 11 and 12 drafts with Tra Thomas, Jeremiah Trotter and Ike Reese alone (3 Pro Bowlers and oddly enough current Eagles commentators).
See Reid worshippers -- good football decisions did exist before his arrival. In fact 9 months before!— guyguy4 - This is definitely one of the best Eagles drafts of all time. How the players pan out over time will be factored in, but all the early picks were sound picks, with no reaches. The pre-season has proven the talent level of these athletes, now it's up to them to live up to their potential. If Nick Foles becomes a franchise quarterback, picked in the 3rd round, and goes on to have the great career that I believe he'll have, then Howie Roseman, our GM, could be a genius. Even some of the picks that the Eagles told fans were going to be projects like Marsh and Keenan Clayton are starting to shape up into decent picks. Bottom line: the Eagles have a front office that is probably in the top 5 in the entire NFL. And maybe the death of Andy's son has caused him to focus on the fact that life is short and it's time to take a different approach. The shouting match with Jenkins was maybe the most hopeful signs in years. Because of it, I think the Eagles will get out of the gates good this year. And if they do, who knows?— cletisvandam
- CLETE YOUR POST IS TRULY ONE FOR THE AGES. THERE IS NOT ONE THING IN YOUR POST THAT MAKES ANY SENSE AT ALL. NONE WHATSOEVER. CLETE YOU ARE THE PERSONIFICATION OF WHAT PEOPLE AROUND THE USA THINK OF THE AVERAGE PHILLY SPORTS FAN - AN ABSOLUTE KNOW-NOTHING. — bedpan
