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The Philadelphia Eagles' best first-round picks are easy to identify. Chuck Bednarik, Bob Brown, Steve Van Buren, Mike Quick, Jerome Brown, Lane Johnson, Fletcher Cox, and others all have obvious places in franchise history, whether because of Hall of Fame résumés, Pro Bowl production, championship impact, or long-term standing among the best players ever to wear midnight green.
The more interesting conversation comes from the first-round picks who gave the Eagles major value without always being remembered as franchise-defining selections. Some played before the modern NFL became a year-round content machine. Others were overshadowed by stars on more memorable teams. A few were excellent for shorter windows, played less glamorous positions, or became steady starters rather than household names.
With training camp fast approaching, we're highlighting players who become core pieces during playoff windows. Here are some of the most underrated first-round picks in Eagles franchise history.
Thomas was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft and became one of the foundational pieces of the Andy Reid era. He arrived one year before Donovan McNabb, stepped into one of football's most important positions, and gave Philadelphia long-term stability at left tackle during the franchise's rise from rebuilding team to perennial NFC contender.
Thomas started 165 games over 11 seasons with the Eagles, earned three Pro Bowl selections, and helped anchor an offensive line that protected McNabb during the best stretch of the quarterback's career. The Eagles reached four consecutive NFC championship games and one Super Bowl with Thomas as a fixture on the left side. Yet, he is often discussed behind Jason Peters, Lane Johnson, and Jon Runyan when fans look back at the franchise's best offensive linemen.
That makes Thomas one of the clearest choices for this list. He was not just a good first-round pick. He was a premium-position hit who became a long-term starter, played at a Pro Bowl level, and helped define the most consistent winning era in modern Eagles history before the franchise finally broke through under Doug Pederson.
Byars was selected with the 10th overall pick in the 1986 NFL draft, and his career is sometimes judged through the wrong lens. He did not become the traditional franchise running back some expected after a dominant college career at Ohio State. Still, he became something ahead of his time: a versatile offensive weapon who could run, catch, block, and create matchup problems from multiple alignments.
Byars spent seven seasons with the Eagles and became a key part of the offense during Buddy Ryan's tenure and the early Rich Kotite years. His best season came in 1990, when he caught 81 passes and topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage, production that reflected how valuable he was beyond standard rushing totals. He was a fullback, running back, and receiving threat before modern offenses made such a hybrid skill set more common.
The Eagles did not get a conventional superstar with Byars, but they got a highly useful football player who brought toughness, intelligence, and flexibility to the offense. His draft status may make some view his career as less than expected, but his actual value to the franchise has aged well.
Simon was selected sixth overall in the 2000 NFL draft and immediately became part of the defensive foundation that helped Philadelphia return to contention. He posted 9.5 sacks as a rookie, earned Pro Bowl honors in 2003, and was a central figure in Jim Johnson's aggressive defense during one of the most successful stretches in franchise history.
The early-2000s Eagles defense is often remembered through Brian Dawkins, Troy Vincent, Bobby Taylor, Jeremiah Trotter, and Johnson's pressure-based scheme. Simon deserves more credit for what he gave that group inside. He could collapse the pocket, disrupt protection, and create problems that helped the Eagles' edge rushers and defensive backs operate with more freedom.
Simon's Eagles tenure was not long enough for him to be remembered with the same weight as Fletcher Cox, Jerome Brown, or Brandon Graham, but his peak mattered. Philadelphia used a top-10 pick on an interior defensive lineman and got an immediate difference-maker on a team that became a regular NFC championship contender.
Brandon Graham, defensive end, 2010
Graham has moved beyond an underrated status in Philadelphia because of his longevity, leadership, and iconic strip-sack of Tom Brady in Super Bowl LII. Still, his career arc makes him worth mentioning in any discussion of first-round picks who were once undervalued. For years, Graham was judged against Earl Thomas and Jason Pierre-Paul, two players selected shortly after him in the 2010 draft. That comparison overshadowed his steady growth into one of the best defensive ends in franchise history. The 37-year-old Graham is third on the Eagles' all-time sack list (78.5) and tied with Seth Joyner for second in team history in forced fumbles (21). Graham broke Chuck Bednarik's record for the most seasons played with the franchise (15).
Graham became the perfect example of why draft evaluations require patience. He developed into a high-effort edge defender, locker-room leader, and championship figure whose value went far beyond his sack totals. He may no longer be underrated among Eagles fans, but he remains one of the franchise's best examples of a first-round pick whose reputation improved dramatically with time.
Sisemore was selected third overall in the 1973 NFL draft and became one of the most dependable offensive linemen in Eagles history. He spent his entire 12-year career in Philadelphia, started 155 games, earned two Pro Bowl selections, and helped the Eagles reach Super Bowl XV after the 1980 season.
Sisemore's value comes from longevity, versatility, and timing. He played tackle and guard, giving Philadelphia flexibility across the offensive line while the franchise moved from years of instability into the Dick Vermeil era. By the time the Eagles became one of the NFC's toughest teams, Sisemore was a trusted veteran presence on a roster built around physical football.
Because offensive linemen from earlier generations are often overlooked, Sisemore does not always receive the recognition his résumé deserves. He was a top-three pick who became a decade-long starter, played multiple positions, and helped the Eagles reach one of the biggest stages in franchise history. That is strong first-round value, even if his name is not mentioned often enough.
Sheppard was selected with the 26th overall pick in the 2002 NFL draft and eventually became one of the Eagles' top defensive playmakers of the 2000s. He entered a veteran secondary that already included Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor, developed behind established starters, and later emerged as a high-level cornerback in one of the NFL's most demanding defensive systems.
At his peak, Sheppard was more than a solid starter. He earned two Pro Bowl selections, was named first-team All-Pro in 2004, and became known for his ability to produce game-changing interceptions. He had the ball skills and confidence required to play cornerback in Johnson's defense, where defensive backs were often asked to survive in aggressive coverage behind pressure packages.
Sheppard is sometimes overshadowed by Dawkins, Vincent, Taylor, and Sheldon Brown in discussions about Eagles defensive backs from that era. That should not erase how good he was. Philadelphia used a late first-round pick and got a legitimate playmaking cornerback during a championship window, which makes him one of the franchise's better underappreciated Round 1 selections.
Young was selected with the 23rd overall pick in the 1980 NFL draft and made an immediate impact on a team that reached the Super Bowl during his rookie season. He spent nine seasons with the Eagles, started 109 games, and intercepted 23 passes, giving Philadelphia long-term stability in the secondary after arriving near the end of the first round.
Young earned Pro Bowl honors as a rookie and became one of the more reliable defensive backs of his era. His career can get lost because that period of Eagles history is often viewed through the lens of Vermeil, Ron Jaworski, Harold Carmichael, Wilbert Montgomery, and the 1980 Super Bowl team. Defensive backs who were not national stars can fade from memory, especially when they played before today's coverage cycle.
Young's résumé deserves more attention. He was an immediate contributor, a long-term starter, and a productive defensive back for nearly a decade. For a late first-round pick, that is exactly the type of return teams hope to get.
Patterson was selected with the 31st overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft and became a reliable interior defensive lineman for the Eagles. He was not a star in the conventional sense, and his game was not built around splash plays. Still, he gave Philadelphia steady production, toughness, and consistent snaps at a physically demanding position.
Patterson started 99 games over eight seasons with the Eagles and played through several roster transitions, from the later years of the McNabb era into the early 2010s. His value came from durability, leverage, effort, and the ability to handle the interior work that does not always show up in box scores. Not every successful first-round pick becomes a Pro Bowler, and Patterson is a reminder that late first-round value can come in the form of dependable starting-caliber play.
He belongs on this list because his career was easy to take for granted. The Eagles did not get a franchise icon, but they got a long-term starter at defensive tackle near the bottom of the first round. That is a solid return in any era.
Andrews was selected with the 16th overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft and, at his peak, was one of the most dominant guards in football. His Eagles career was shortened by injuries and other challenges, which can make his time in Philadelphia feel incomplete, but his best years were outstanding.
Andrews earned three Pro Bowl selections and two first-team All-Pro honors, giving the Eagles elite interior offensive line play during the mid-2000s. He was powerful in the run game, athletic enough to thrive in Philadelphia's offense, and capable of overwhelming defensive linemen when healthy. The Eagles used a mid-first-round pick on a guard and got a player who performed like one of the best at his position.
Longevity keeps Andrews from being discussed with the Eagles' most accomplished linemen, but that should not erase his peak. For several seasons, he was a force. When ranking underrated first-round picks, that peak matters.
The last first-round pick at the position before Jihaad Campbell, Robinson was selected 21st overall in the 1979 NFL Draft. He became a productive linebacker for the Eagles before later continuing his career elsewhere. He arrived during a strong period for the franchise, contributed to playoff teams, and earned Pro Bowl recognition in Philadelphia.
Robinson's case is different from players who spent a decade with the Eagles, but he still fits the underrated category because his best years in Philadelphia were meaningful. He was part of the defensive core during the Vermeil era, played on the 1980 NFC championship team, and provided athleticism at linebacker during a period when the Eagles were built on toughness and defensive structure.
His time with the franchise was not long enough to make him one of the first names mentioned in Eagles draft history. Still, as a late first-round pick who became a Pro Bowl player and a championship-team contributor, Robinson deserves a place in the conversation.
Young was selected sixth overall in the 1973 NFL draft, the same year the Eagles also landed Sisemore at No. 3. While Sisemore became the longer-tenured Eagle, Young gave Philadelphia immediate value at tight end and earned Pro Bowl recognition early in his career.
Young's overall NFL career stretched beyond Philadelphia, but his Eagles years were productive. He was a skilled receiving tight end in an era when the position was not used as it is today, and his ability to create offense made him one of the better players on teams still trying to climb back toward contention. His place in franchise history is easy to overlook because he did not spend his entire career in Philadelphia and because later tight ends, including Keith Jackson, Pete Retzlaff, Zach Ertz, and Dallas Goedert, have become more familiar to modern fans.
Still, Young was a first-round pick who played well for the Eagles and gave them legitimate production at a position that has long mattered to the franchise. In an underrated first-round conversation, he belongs.
The Eagles have had bigger first-round hits and more famous draft stories, but underrated picks help explain how the franchise built competitive teams across different eras. Thomas, Sisemore, Sheppard, and Young delivered a long-term starting value. Byars and Young brought versatile offensive production. Simon and Andrews had strong peaks. Patterson gave the Eagles steady interior play, while Robinson became a Pro Bowl contributor on a Super Bowl team.
That is the broader lesson of draft history. First-round success is not limited to Hall of Famers or franchise icons. Sometimes it is a left tackle who holds down the blind side for a decade, a cornerback who becomes a playmaker during a title window, a lineman whose best years were better than people remember, or a versatile back whose game was more modern than his era. The Eagles have had all of those, and their most underrated first-round picks deserve a longer look.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Most underrated first-round picks in Eagles franchise history
Continue reading...
The more interesting conversation comes from the first-round picks who gave the Eagles major value without always being remembered as franchise-defining selections. Some played before the modern NFL became a year-round content machine. Others were overshadowed by stars on more memorable teams. A few were excellent for shorter windows, played less glamorous positions, or became steady starters rather than household names.
With training camp fast approaching, we're highlighting players who become core pieces during playoff windows. Here are some of the most underrated first-round picks in Eagles franchise history.
Tra Thomas, offensive tackle, 1998
Thomas was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft and became one of the foundational pieces of the Andy Reid era. He arrived one year before Donovan McNabb, stepped into one of football's most important positions, and gave Philadelphia long-term stability at left tackle during the franchise's rise from rebuilding team to perennial NFC contender.
Thomas started 165 games over 11 seasons with the Eagles, earned three Pro Bowl selections, and helped anchor an offensive line that protected McNabb during the best stretch of the quarterback's career. The Eagles reached four consecutive NFC championship games and one Super Bowl with Thomas as a fixture on the left side. Yet, he is often discussed behind Jason Peters, Lane Johnson, and Jon Runyan when fans look back at the franchise's best offensive linemen.
That makes Thomas one of the clearest choices for this list. He was not just a good first-round pick. He was a premium-position hit who became a long-term starter, played at a Pro Bowl level, and helped define the most consistent winning era in modern Eagles history before the franchise finally broke through under Doug Pederson.
Keith Byars, running back/fullback, 1986
Byars was selected with the 10th overall pick in the 1986 NFL draft, and his career is sometimes judged through the wrong lens. He did not become the traditional franchise running back some expected after a dominant college career at Ohio State. Still, he became something ahead of his time: a versatile offensive weapon who could run, catch, block, and create matchup problems from multiple alignments.
Byars spent seven seasons with the Eagles and became a key part of the offense during Buddy Ryan's tenure and the early Rich Kotite years. His best season came in 1990, when he caught 81 passes and topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage, production that reflected how valuable he was beyond standard rushing totals. He was a fullback, running back, and receiving threat before modern offenses made such a hybrid skill set more common.
The Eagles did not get a conventional superstar with Byars, but they got a highly useful football player who brought toughness, intelligence, and flexibility to the offense. His draft status may make some view his career as less than expected, but his actual value to the franchise has aged well.
Corey Simon, defensive tackle, 2000
Simon was selected sixth overall in the 2000 NFL draft and immediately became part of the defensive foundation that helped Philadelphia return to contention. He posted 9.5 sacks as a rookie, earned Pro Bowl honors in 2003, and was a central figure in Jim Johnson's aggressive defense during one of the most successful stretches in franchise history.
The early-2000s Eagles defense is often remembered through Brian Dawkins, Troy Vincent, Bobby Taylor, Jeremiah Trotter, and Johnson's pressure-based scheme. Simon deserves more credit for what he gave that group inside. He could collapse the pocket, disrupt protection, and create problems that helped the Eagles' edge rushers and defensive backs operate with more freedom.
Simon's Eagles tenure was not long enough for him to be remembered with the same weight as Fletcher Cox, Jerome Brown, or Brandon Graham, but his peak mattered. Philadelphia used a top-10 pick on an interior defensive lineman and got an immediate difference-maker on a team that became a regular NFC championship contender.
Brandon Graham, defensive end, 2010
Graham has moved beyond an underrated status in Philadelphia because of his longevity, leadership, and iconic strip-sack of Tom Brady in Super Bowl LII. Still, his career arc makes him worth mentioning in any discussion of first-round picks who were once undervalued. For years, Graham was judged against Earl Thomas and Jason Pierre-Paul, two players selected shortly after him in the 2010 draft. That comparison overshadowed his steady growth into one of the best defensive ends in franchise history. The 37-year-old Graham is third on the Eagles' all-time sack list (78.5) and tied with Seth Joyner for second in team history in forced fumbles (21). Graham broke Chuck Bednarik's record for the most seasons played with the franchise (15).
Graham became the perfect example of why draft evaluations require patience. He developed into a high-effort edge defender, locker-room leader, and championship figure whose value went far beyond his sack totals. He may no longer be underrated among Eagles fans, but he remains one of the franchise's best examples of a first-round pick whose reputation improved dramatically with time.
Jerry Sisemore, offensive tackle/guard, 1973
Sisemore was selected third overall in the 1973 NFL draft and became one of the most dependable offensive linemen in Eagles history. He spent his entire 12-year career in Philadelphia, started 155 games, earned two Pro Bowl selections, and helped the Eagles reach Super Bowl XV after the 1980 season.
Sisemore's value comes from longevity, versatility, and timing. He played tackle and guard, giving Philadelphia flexibility across the offensive line while the franchise moved from years of instability into the Dick Vermeil era. By the time the Eagles became one of the NFC's toughest teams, Sisemore was a trusted veteran presence on a roster built around physical football.
Because offensive linemen from earlier generations are often overlooked, Sisemore does not always receive the recognition his résumé deserves. He was a top-three pick who became a decade-long starter, played multiple positions, and helped the Eagles reach one of the biggest stages in franchise history. That is strong first-round value, even if his name is not mentioned often enough.
Lito Sheppard, cornerback, 2002
Sheppard was selected with the 26th overall pick in the 2002 NFL draft and eventually became one of the Eagles' top defensive playmakers of the 2000s. He entered a veteran secondary that already included Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor, developed behind established starters, and later emerged as a high-level cornerback in one of the NFL's most demanding defensive systems.
At his peak, Sheppard was more than a solid starter. He earned two Pro Bowl selections, was named first-team All-Pro in 2004, and became known for his ability to produce game-changing interceptions. He had the ball skills and confidence required to play cornerback in Johnson's defense, where defensive backs were often asked to survive in aggressive coverage behind pressure packages.
Sheppard is sometimes overshadowed by Dawkins, Vincent, Taylor, and Sheldon Brown in discussions about Eagles defensive backs from that era. That should not erase how good he was. Philadelphia used a late first-round pick and got a legitimate playmaking cornerback during a championship window, which makes him one of the franchise's better underappreciated Round 1 selections.
Roynell Young, cornerback, 1980
Young was selected with the 23rd overall pick in the 1980 NFL draft and made an immediate impact on a team that reached the Super Bowl during his rookie season. He spent nine seasons with the Eagles, started 109 games, and intercepted 23 passes, giving Philadelphia long-term stability in the secondary after arriving near the end of the first round.
Young earned Pro Bowl honors as a rookie and became one of the more reliable defensive backs of his era. His career can get lost because that period of Eagles history is often viewed through the lens of Vermeil, Ron Jaworski, Harold Carmichael, Wilbert Montgomery, and the 1980 Super Bowl team. Defensive backs who were not national stars can fade from memory, especially when they played before today's coverage cycle.
Young's résumé deserves more attention. He was an immediate contributor, a long-term starter, and a productive defensive back for nearly a decade. For a late first-round pick, that is exactly the type of return teams hope to get.
Mike Patterson, defensive tackle, 2005
Patterson was selected with the 31st overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft and became a reliable interior defensive lineman for the Eagles. He was not a star in the conventional sense, and his game was not built around splash plays. Still, he gave Philadelphia steady production, toughness, and consistent snaps at a physically demanding position.
Patterson started 99 games over eight seasons with the Eagles and played through several roster transitions, from the later years of the McNabb era into the early 2010s. His value came from durability, leverage, effort, and the ability to handle the interior work that does not always show up in box scores. Not every successful first-round pick becomes a Pro Bowler, and Patterson is a reminder that late first-round value can come in the form of dependable starting-caliber play.
He belongs on this list because his career was easy to take for granted. The Eagles did not get a franchise icon, but they got a long-term starter at defensive tackle near the bottom of the first round. That is a solid return in any era.
Shawn Andrews, offensive guard, 2004
Andrews was selected with the 16th overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft and, at his peak, was one of the most dominant guards in football. His Eagles career was shortened by injuries and other challenges, which can make his time in Philadelphia feel incomplete, but his best years were outstanding.
Andrews earned three Pro Bowl selections and two first-team All-Pro honors, giving the Eagles elite interior offensive line play during the mid-2000s. He was powerful in the run game, athletic enough to thrive in Philadelphia's offense, and capable of overwhelming defensive linemen when healthy. The Eagles used a mid-first-round pick on a guard and got a player who performed like one of the best at his position.
Longevity keeps Andrews from being discussed with the Eagles' most accomplished linemen, but that should not erase his peak. For several seasons, he was a force. When ranking underrated first-round picks, that peak matters.
Jerry Robinson, linebacker, 1979
The last first-round pick at the position before Jihaad Campbell, Robinson was selected 21st overall in the 1979 NFL Draft. He became a productive linebacker for the Eagles before later continuing his career elsewhere. He arrived during a strong period for the franchise, contributed to playoff teams, and earned Pro Bowl recognition in Philadelphia.
Robinson's case is different from players who spent a decade with the Eagles, but he still fits the underrated category because his best years in Philadelphia were meaningful. He was part of the defensive core during the Vermeil era, played on the 1980 NFC championship team, and provided athleticism at linebacker during a period when the Eagles were built on toughness and defensive structure.
His time with the franchise was not long enough to make him one of the first names mentioned in Eagles draft history. Still, as a late first-round pick who became a Pro Bowl player and a championship-team contributor, Robinson deserves a place in the conversation.
Charle Young, tight end, 1973
Young was selected sixth overall in the 1973 NFL draft, the same year the Eagles also landed Sisemore at No. 3. While Sisemore became the longer-tenured Eagle, Young gave Philadelphia immediate value at tight end and earned Pro Bowl recognition early in his career.
Young's overall NFL career stretched beyond Philadelphia, but his Eagles years were productive. He was a skilled receiving tight end in an era when the position was not used as it is today, and his ability to create offense made him one of the better players on teams still trying to climb back toward contention. His place in franchise history is easy to overlook because he did not spend his entire career in Philadelphia and because later tight ends, including Keith Jackson, Pete Retzlaff, Zach Ertz, and Dallas Goedert, have become more familiar to modern fans.
Still, Young was a first-round pick who played well for the Eagles and gave them legitimate production at a position that has long mattered to the franchise. In an underrated first-round conversation, he belongs.
Final analysis
The Eagles have had bigger first-round hits and more famous draft stories, but underrated picks help explain how the franchise built competitive teams across different eras. Thomas, Sisemore, Sheppard, and Young delivered a long-term starting value. Byars and Young brought versatile offensive production. Simon and Andrews had strong peaks. Patterson gave the Eagles steady interior play, while Robinson became a Pro Bowl contributor on a Super Bowl team.
That is the broader lesson of draft history. First-round success is not limited to Hall of Famers or franchise icons. Sometimes it is a left tackle who holds down the blind side for a decade, a cornerback who becomes a playmaker during a title window, a lineman whose best years were better than people remember, or a versatile back whose game was more modern than his era. The Eagles have had all of those, and their most underrated first-round picks deserve a longer look.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Most underrated first-round picks in Eagles franchise history
Continue reading...
