Eagles
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It’s draft week for the NFL. The Eagles will look to bring in new young players. Do they still look at tight end with Goedert only signing a one-year deal? Is wide receiver a target with the Schefter report that AJ Brown will be traded around June 1st? Yeah, we’re not going to analyze any of that. Plenty already out there. Here we’ll take a look at some of the best players and moments of drafts’ past. Now, this list is pretty subjective but I’m confident the first is handily the best Eagles draft moment.
David Akers presenting the draft pick in 2018. If you aren’t familiar, check out the video below. I watch it about 10 times every year before the draft. You know it’s good when your buddy from Chicago sends it to you unprompted. Everything about this clip is perfect to me. Between it being a true Eagles legend (and a kicker at that), in Dallas (home of the rival Cowboys), picking a player with the name of Dallas, and, saving the best for last, it was directly after the Eagles first ever Super Bowl win. The dig about how none of the players drafted have seen a Super Bowl is the chefs kiss if you ask me.
The next great moment is a little awkward given the recent news. That would be when Howie Roseman traded for AJ Brown during the 2022 draft. Listen I understand the guy is leaving soon and doesn’t have the best reputation. That said, if you weren’t excited during that trade, you may need to seek professional help. This was the first time since probably Terrell Owen’s that the Eagles had a major trade for a wide receiver. Worked out better than the TO trade considering the Super Bowl win and AJ hasn’t resorted to sit ups in his driveway to voice his discontent.
Next up we have a few actual draft picks. We’ll start with my most recent favorite, Devonta Smith. Now there weren’t any flashy moments or trades for the Eagles to acquire Smith. There was a historical reference that the Eagles wouldn’t draft him. In earlier years, Howie had some very questionable receiver draft picks. Players like Nelson Agholor, JJ Arcega-Whiteside, and Jalen Reagor. Why did I pick this moment? It’s one of the few times where you can say, “the fans were correct.” I’m not the smartest guy but if you give me the option between a Heisman winner or a guy who’s college mascot I don’t know off the top of my head, I’m going to go with the Heisman. Now that’s high quality analysis.
This pick is a little bit more infamous given how everything shook out. That would be when the Eagles selected Donovan McNabb in the 1999 draft… to an onslaught of boo’s from the Eagles fans. This moment just perfectly sums up the Eagles QB experience. To this day Donovan McNabb will spark a nice long discussion with anyone around to have experienced it. Some people think fondly, others despise him, and some just don’t think he had the talent to win at the highest level. Players like that are what build this sports media conversations and McNabb might the best player to fit that description.
Lastly, I’m just going when they drafted my favorite player, Brian Dawkins, drafted in 1996. Honestly nothing too fancy about this pick. Simple as my favorite team drafted an all time great at his position. Also a teaser for the next piece after some draft analysis.
It’s going to be nice recapping everything next week. Howie always loves the draft and making the most of trades up or down to acquire players. Should be an exciting weekend and our first taste of football in too long. Until then, Go Birds!
Sources: Eagles post via X, NBC Sports Nation on YouTube, Brotherly Love Nation on YouTube
Hello, I’m a greater Philadelphia native writing mostly about the Eagles and the rest of the NFL. Articles aren’t … More about Kyle Lavin
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