The 2020 NFL is less than two weeks away and the Eagles will have the opportunity to alter the course of their franchise with the 21st pick.
The Eagles will have the option of several talented wideouts, they could target a defender or trade back altogether.
The Eagles history in the first round features some all-time greats and several busts that have left stains on the franchise.
Here’s an Eagles Wire ranking of the best first-round picks for the franchise since 2000.
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1. Fletcher Cox, DT, 12th pick in 2012 draft
Cox dealt with constant double teams and a nagging injury but still was a monster down the stretch for the Eagles in 2019. During his career, Cox has started 119 of 125 games played, racking up 367 tackles, 48 sacks, 14 passes defended and 11 forced fumbles.
Cox has been named an All-Pro four times in his career and he’s a five-time Pro Bowler as well.
2. Lane Johnson, RT, 4th pick in 2013 draft
Chip Kelly’s first draft has blossomed into the top right tackle in the NFL and he’s seemed to have moved beyond the controversy surrounding his suspensions. Johnson is an anchor of the Eagles offensive, a likely Hall of Famer and will lead the Birds deep into Carson Wentz’s prime.
Johnson has been an All-Pro once and he’s a three-time Pro Bowler.
3. Brandon Graham, DE, 13th pick in 2010 draft
A rugged defender out of Michigan, Graham has survived two coaching changes, to become one of the unanimous leaders in the Eagles locker room. Graham plays the run exceptionally well, provides pressure off the Edge and made the defining play in the Eagles Super Bowl win over New England.
Graham has amassed 51 career sacks in 153 games.
4. Carson Wentz, QB, 2nd pick in 2016 draft
The Eagles franchise quarterback signed a monster contract extension last offseason and is firmly entrenched after becoming the first signal-caller in team history to amass 4,000 yards passing in a season.
Wentz was on his way to an MVP during the 2017 Super Bowl season and led the Eagles to another division title in 2019.
5. Jeremy Maclin, WR 19th pick in 2009 draft
Maclin made a name for himself with the Eagles and finished his career with 343 catches, 4,771 yards and 36 touchdowns in five seasons.
Macklin made the Pro Bowl in his final season with the Birds and parlayed that into a huge deal with the Chiefs.
6. Corey Simon, DT 6th pick in 2000 draft
The former Florida State star had a really productive first four seasons in the NFL.
Simon amassed 26½ sacks and was stout against the run during a stretch where the Eagles were dominant, amassing a 46-18 record.
7. Lito Sheppard CB 16th pick in 2004 draft
A dawg in the literal sense as a player, Sheppard was solid at cornerback for the Eagles.
Shepherd is still one of only two players in NFL history with more than one interception return for a touchdown of 100 yards or more (Ed Reed) is the other.
Shepherd had seven solid seasons with the Eagles, snagging 19 career interceptions, becoming a two-time Pro Bowler and in 2004 a first-team All-Pro.
8. Shawn Andrews, OL, 16th pick in 2004
Andrews was dominant and reminiscent of Brandon Brooks early on in his career.
Andrews played only three full seasons in the NFL — 2005 through 2007 — making two Pro Bowls and being named first-team All-Pro once.
9. Brodrick Bunkley, DT, 14th pick in 2006
A former star at FSU, Bunkley started for the Eagles from 2007 through 2009. He’s now preparing for his fourth year with the Saint and has started over 100 games in the NFL.
10. Mike Patterson, DT, 31st pick in 2005
The former USC Trojan was stout against the run for eight years in Philadelphia.
Simon missed just three games from 2006 through 2011 and will be most remembered for his 98-yard fumble recovery return at Candlestick in 2006.
11. Derek Barnett, 14th pick in 2017 draft
Barnett has been solid if not inconsistent, and his best may be yet to come. The former Tennessee star has played in 35 career games, producing 14 sacks and 67 total tackles, with 42 quarterback hits.
2019 will be a defining year for Barnett.
12. Nelson Agholor, WR, 20th pick 2015 draft
Now a member of the Las Vegas Raiders, Agholor had more good moments in Philadelphia than bad, but it was his inconsistency overall that led to the Eagles moving on.
In 71 career games with the Eagles, Agholor accounted for 224 catches for 2,515 yards and 18 touchdowns.
13. Freddie Mitchell, WR, 25th pick in 2001
A star at UCLA, the Philadelphia Eagles passed on all-time greats like Steve Smith, Reggie Wayne, and Chad Johnson to draft Mitchell.
Mitchell was a complete bust in the NFL and of the collegiate wideouts who’ve been drafted in the first round since 2001 and are no longer playing, only eight had fewer career catches than Mitchell.
Mitchell was out of the NFL after the Eagles 2004 Super Bowl appearance.
14. Andre Dillard, LT, 22nd pick in 2019 draft
Dillard will climb the list but for now, he’s stuck after a rookie season that saw him start at left tackle three times in place of an injured Jason Peters. Dillard struggled badly at right tackle but showed enough as a first-round pick to allow the Eagles to comfortably move on from Peters.
15. OT Danny Watkins (23rd pick in 2011)
A stud in college, it never transitioned in the NFL for Watkins.
Watkins started 18 of 24 games before being out of the league in three years.
16. Jerome McDougle, DE, 15th pick in 2003 draft
Loaded with potential and coming from one of the most dominant programs in college football, McDougle had the look of. a star.
The former first-round pick was shot during a carjacking in his native Miami and never reached his full ability.
McDougle finished his Eagles career with three total sacks.
17. Marcus Smith, LB, 26th pick in 2014 draft
Smith played in 53 career games, registering six total sacks.
Smith was drafted ahead of guys like Jimmie Ward, Teddy Bridgewater, DeMarcus Lawrence, and DaVante Adams.
