Are these the best draft picks in Philadelphia Eagles history?

The Eagles have been a consistently competitive team since the turn of the millennium, with a lot of that success built off the back of clever roster building through free agency and the draft. So, let's take a look at some of their best ever draft picks!

Carter is just one year into his NFL career but he looks to the manor born. His six sacks and fumble recovery touchdown, per Pro Football Reference, make for a stat line most veteran defensive tackles would be envious of, let alone a rookie.

‘Weapon X’ as Dawkins was affectionately known by fans is one of the best players in franchise history. Drafted in 1996, the safety was a huge part of the Eagles teams of the early and mid-2000s who were consistently pushing for a Super Bowl championship. Dawkins is now enshrined in the Hall of Fame and beloved by fans to this day.

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A 6’6” offensive tackle who started life as a quarterback, Johnson is one of the best athletes for his size the NFL has ever seen. Selected fourth overall and the third tackle taken in the 2013 draft, Johnson has proven himself to be one of the best players at his position over the past decade, the Eagles nailed this one. Johnson was ranked second in the NFL behind just Trent Williams at offensive tackle, per Pro Football Focus.

Drafted way back in 1949, ‘Concrete Charlie’ was one of the last of the NFL’s ‘60 minute men’ meaning he played pretty much every down on offense and defense. Featuring in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as well as the 50th, 75th, and 100th Year Anniversary Teams, there are few more decorated individuals in NFL history, whilst also winning the NFL Championship twice to boot.

McCoy was perhaps the most exciting running back of his era, able to make cuts and jukes others could barely even consider pulling off. ‘Shady’ was part of Andy Reid’s electric offenses of the early 2010s and would go on to win two Super Bowls at the tail end of his stellar career. Not bad for a second-rounder.

One of a very small number to have a legitimate claim as the greatest defensive player ever, White was selected via the supplemental draft after playing in the USFL. Whilst White’s Super Bowl win was in Green Bay, his best years were in Philly racking up well over 100 sacks and winning myriad personal awards, per Pro Football Reference.

The tallest wide receiver to ever play in the NFL, Carmichael stands a staggering 6’8”, towering a good eight inches over most wideouts in the league. Selected in the seventh round of the 1971 draft, Carmichael would be a dominant force over his career and deservedly receive his Hall of Fame gold jacket in 2020.

The Eagles took a risk on Cunningham, taking him in the second round of the 1985 draft. Little did they know the influence he would have on the modern NFL. Part of the Eagles’ squads in the early 90s which probably should’ve won a Super Bowl, his electric playmaking in and out of structure changed the quarterback position forever.

For a long time now the Eagles have been known to have some of the best offensive and defensive lines in football. Whilst this didn’t necessarily start with drafting Tra Thomas, it certainly reinforced the point. Taken 11th overall in 1998, Thomas was one of the best left tackles in the game for the best part of a decade, protecting Donovan McNabb’s blindside.

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Despite their history, the Eagles have a patchy record with quarterbacks, spending decades without an elite guy. This changed when they selected McNabb second overall in 1999. An incredible athlete for his position, McNabb led the way as the Eagles constantly challenged for Super Bowls and is probably the best Eagles QB of all time up to this point.

Another member of the 1960 NFL Championship-winning side, the only team to ever beat Lombardi’s Packers in the postseason, McDonald was an all-time great wide receiver. Despite playing in a run-first era, McDonald went a four-year period where he caught 47 TDs in 48 games. Unreal.

Kelce is one of the greatest late-round finds in NFL history, taken in the sixth round back in 2011, he has played at an elite level pretty much ever since. Despite rumors of his retirement this offseason, he is back for one more ride hoping to add another Super Bowl ring to his trophy cabinet.

Cole is one of the best pass rushers in Eagles history and bookended the defensive line in Philadelphia for years, finishing his career with over 90 sacks, per ESPN. A beloved member of the franchise who always played with obvious passion, Cole was a huge part of the Eagles franchise during his 10 years there. Not bad for a fifth-round pick.

‘Djacc’ had two spells in Philly, from 2008-2013 and again from 2019-2020, during that time he showed exactly why he was worth a second-round pick. Seemingly always faster than the opposition no matter who that was, Jackson was probably the most electric playmaker in football for most of his career. His punt return TD during the ‘Miracle at the New Meadowlands’ will live long in the memory.

Alongside Kelce, Johnson, and Brandon Graham, Cox has formed the core of the Eagles over the past decade or so. Drafted 12th overall in 2012, he went on to become one of the very best defensive tackles in football, dominating opposition players and putting up eye-watering statistics at times. With a Super Bowl win back in 2017 under his belt, he will be hoping for another in what might be his last season.

It’s perhaps a little early to crown Hurts as one of the greatest picks in franchise history, but when he is leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance in his second year as a full-time starter, there’s little doubt about his ability. Hurts had a down year in 2023 but still finished with 3,858  yards passing and 38 total TDs, per Pro Football Reference.

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