They say the more things change, the more they stay the same. That's a fair statement. The Philadelphia Eagles' roster-building strategy hasn't changed much since Andy Reid was pacing the sideline. More often than not, Big Red went with an offensive or defensive lineman in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. Fast forward to the present, and under general manager Howie Roseman, Philly has dedicated itself to building its roster by building every team by first ensuring the offensive and defensive lines are well stocked.
Howie learned this theory from Reid. Andy arrived in 1999. Roseman followed in 2000. The latter was an intern then. They worked together until 2012. One of the more memorable times we saw Reid stick to his guns was during the NFL Draft in 2010.
Philly had just traded up to the 13th overall selection and was on the clock. Many thought they had done so to grab Texas Longhorns star Earl Thomas. Remember that Brian Dawkins left the City of Brotherly Love after the 2008 Eagles season and Philly was having a hard time replacing him.
Buckle up kids. This story gets a whole heck of a lot more interesting.
The Eagles select Brandon Graham over Ear Thomas in Round 1 of the 2010 NFL Draft.
Now, we know what you are thinking. How in the heck does an NFL team replace Dawk, right? Well, admittedly, that's impossible to do, but we can ensure one thing. Sean Jones, a free-agent addition in 2009, did nothing to make us forget about 'Weapon X'. Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman, 2010 second-round and seventh-round draftees respectively, didn't do much to make us forget him either.
That brings us back to the Eagles' perceived need at the safety position during the 2010 offseason and that 13th overall selection during the NFL Draft. That seemingly made Earl Thomas the logical choice for Philly, but they went with Brandon Graham, an edge rusher who cut his teeth collegiately at Michigan.
We all know how both guys turned out. Earl Thomas got off to a quick start and won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. He's a three-time First-team All-Pro (2012–2014), a two-time Second-team All-Pro (2011, 2017), a seven-time Pro Bowler (2011–2015, 2017, 2019), and a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
B.G. got off to a slow start, but he eventually became a great player and franchise legend. He won't be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but he's a shoo-in for the Eagles Hall of Fame. He's also a Super Bowl Champion who authored the greatest strip sack in the game's history.
Truthfully, we believe he's criminally underrated. He earned Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2016 and a Pro Bowl mention in 2020, but he should have been the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year in 2022. He was also snubbed for at least three more Pro Bowl nods he should have been given: 2017, 2019, and 2022. We could make a case for another (2015), but we'll move on.
If this story reminds you of another, that's because it should. This feels like the Jordan Davis-Kyle Hamilton discussion.
History repeats itself as the Eagles select Jordan Davis over Kyle Hamilton (with the 13th overall selection).
Those of you who are younger may not remember when Philly passed on Earl Thomas, but you're certain to remember the Eagles' decision to take Jordan Davis 13th overall in 2022 (the same selection they used to grab B.G.). Why is that important to our story? It's simple. The Baltimore Ravens took Kyle Hamilton, another safety, one spot later with the 14th selection.
There are a lot of movement parts here. There are so many things that we can talk about. Philly again elected to stick with the business model and go with a trench warrior in Round 1 over a defensive back.
None of us should be surprised. Before selecting Quinyon Mitchell on the NFL Draft's first night this past April, the Birds had only gone with a DB in Round 1 three times. The most recent time it had happened was in 2002. Lito Sheppard was the selection.
You can see why we draw parallels, right? Hamilton, just two seasons into his NFL career, has already earned a First-Team All-Pro mention and a Pro Bowl nod. Both came in 2023. He was named to the Pro Football Writers of America's All-Rookie Team in 2022. Meanwhile, the first two seasons of Jordan Davis's career haven't been as explosive as we all hoped they would be.
Fear not. Davis will be a great Eagle. We can only base that theory on a hunch, but this gives us Graham-Thomas vibes. When you place your head on the pillow tonight, sleep well. This will work out. That's a promise.
The tools are there. Davis now gets to learn under Vic Fangio. Clint Hurtt is an excellent D-line cach. Davis is in good hands.
B.G., again, got off to a slow start, but the Eagles were patient. That paid off. Being patient with Davis will yield similar results.
Plus, Earl Thomas grew up a Dallas Cowboys fan. Something tells us the arrangement would have never worked. Philly made the right choice by selecting Brandon Graham.
We'll say it again. Be patient. Everything is going to be fine.
