Rounding up Eagles draft winners, by the numbers
The NFL Draft begins Thursday night, and for the fourth time in their history the Eagles will be scheduled to make the 21st overall pick.
Of the three previous Eagles selections at No. 21, only Jerry Robinson in 1979 was productive, becoming a starting linebacker for the 1980-81 Super Bowl team and playing in one Pro Bowl.
Thus, the question: Who were the best players ever selected by the Eagles at each of the first 32 spots, the length of the modern first round?
Call this their all-time Make Draft:
NO.1» The Eagles have had the top pick three times, but not once since 1949. That’s when they selected Penn’s Chuck Bednarik, who would play on two championship teams and reach the Hall of Fame as a center and linebacker.
NO.2» Bob Brown (1964, Nebraska) became a Hall of Fame offensive lineman. He’s the choice over Donovan McNabb, Carson Wentz and George McAfee (1950), a Hall of Fame halfback whose success was with the Bears.
NO.3» Jerry Sisemore (1973, Texas), twice a Pro Bowl tackle and a member of the Eagles’ first Super Bowl team, is the pick from a three-man field including running backs Leroy Keyes (1969) and Pete Kmetovic (1947).
NO.4» Lane Johnson (2013, Oklahoma), who has made three Pro Bowls and helped win a Super Bowl, rates the call over Ed Budde, the 1963 choice who signed with the Chiefs and later rated a spot on the All-AFL AllTime team.
NO.5» Steve Van Buren (1944, LSU) helped the Eagles win two championships as a Hall of Fame running back.
NO.6» Tight end Charle Young (1973, USC) was the Rookie of the Year. He edges Corey Simon (2000, Florida State), three Pro Bowls to one.
NO.7» Make it Clarence Peaks, a productive fullback and 1960 NFL champion out of Michigan State (1957) over Mike Mamula (1995, Boston College).
NO.8» Running back Michael Haddix (1983, Mississippi State) is the pick over tackle Antone Davis (1991, Tennessee).
NO.9» Jerome Brown (1987, Miami) was having a number-retired-level career before dying in a 1992 automobile accident.
NO. 10 » The Eagles have had the pick only twice. Keith Byars (1986, Ohio State) rushed for 3,109 yards and reached a Pro Bowl.
NO. 11 » Tra Thomas (1998, Florida State) was an 11-year starter and a heavy contributor to a Super Bowl team at left tackle.
NO. 12 » Five-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle and Super Bowl champion Fletcher Cox (2012, Mississippi State) proved to be a 2012 draft bargain.
NO. 13 » For his greater longevity, make it defensive end Brandon Graham (2010, Michigan) over tight end Keith Jackson (1988, Oklahoma).
NO. 14 » Tim Rossovich (1968, USC) reached a Pro Bowl, enough to earn the nod over Derek Barnett (2017, Tennessee). NO. 15 » Tackle J.D. Smith (1959, Rice) started 12 games for the 1960 champions and was in the Pro Bowl in 1961.
NO. 16 » Guard Shawn Andrews (2004, Arkansas) twice reached the Pro Bowl.
NO. 17 » Oklahoma defensive tackle Jim Weatherall was the choice in 1952, opted to serve in the Marine Corps, joined the Eagles in 1955 and made the Pro Bowl in his first two seasons.
NO. 18 » There are but two to choose from, but center Ray Mansfield (1963, Washington) went on to a productive career in Pittsburgh after starting 11 games as an Eagles rookie. So he’s the choice over running back Ted Williams (1942, Boston College). NO. 19 » His contributions as a quarterback to two world championship teams make Bill Mackrides (1937, Nevada) the choice over receiver Jeremy Maclin (2009, Missouri).
NO. 20 » In Maxie Baughan, Mike Quick and Nelson Agholor, the Eagles have had success at this spot. Go with Baughan (1960, Georgia Tech) for his nine Pro Bowls and linebacking for the 1960 champions.
NO. 21 » Robinson … until this year?
NO. 22 » That would be Ben Smith (1990, Georgia), a defensive back who made the All-Rookie team. NO. 23 » Cornerback Roynell Young (Alcorn State) started 16 games as a rookie for the 1980 Super Bowl team and was in the Pro Bowl in 1981.
NO. 24 » Defensive tackle Leonard
Renfro (1993, Colorado) was the only 24th overall pick in Eagles history. So despite only starting two games in a two-year career, he wins.
NO. 25 » Offensive lineman Jermane Mayberry (1996, Texas A&M-Kingsville) lasted nine seasons with the club and reached the 2002 Pro Bowl. Freddie Mitchell (2001, UCLA) once made a big catch.
NO. 26 » Defensive back Lito Sheppard (2002, Florida) played in two Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl.
NO. 27 » Offensive tackle Leonard Mitchell (1981, Houston) developed into a useful starter after a slow start.
NO. 28 » Center Guy Morriss (1973, TCU) became a reliable force as the Eagles developed into a Super Bowl team.
NO. 29 » Give it to halfback Frank Ziegler (1949, Georgia Tech) for his contribution to the 1949 championship team over twotime Pro Bowl return specialist Lum Snyder (1952, Georgia Tech).
NO. 30 » The Eagles had just two No. 30 picks, but one was Eric Allen (1988, Arizona State), who has rated Hall of Fame consideration.
NO. 31 » Tommy McDonald (1957, Oklahoma) helped win a championship in a Hall of Fame career, making him the best value in this Make Draft.
NO. 32 » Tackle Al Wistert (1943, Michigan) contributed to two championship teams, and his name long has been mentioned in Hall of Fame discussions.
In later rounds, the Eagles found Hall of Famers at Picks No. 41 (Pete Pihos, 1945), 43 (Sonny Jurgensen, 1957), 61 (Brian Dawkins) and 161 (Harold Carmichael). And in 1948, they made Lou Creekmur the No. 243 overall pick, but he returned to play again at William & Mary and later became a Hall of Fame tackle with the Lions. Imagine how ticked the Eagles scout who sniffed him out must have been when he didn’t sign.
Will the organization find a Hall of Famer Thursday? Somebody will. Might as well be them.
To contact Jack McCaffery, email him at jmccaffery@21stcenturymedia.com; follow him on Twitter @JackMcCaffery