As we near the 2020 NFL draft, the Eagles are expected to have 10 selections and a real opportunity to pick up some important young players for the future of the franchise.
During his time as GM (2010-14, 2016-present), Howie Roseman has had some hits and he’s had some misses.
We’ve been ranking all of his draft picks (excluding the 2015 year when Chip Kelly was in charge) by round.
NFL
Here’s how I’d rank Roseman’s eight sixth-round picks:
1. Jason Kelce (2011, No. 191)
I’d say this worked out pretty well. In a draft class that started with Danny Watkins, Jaiquawn Jarrett and Curtis Marsh in the first three rounds, Kelce ended up being the savior. The Eagles took an underweight center from Cincinnati and in his nine years with the Eagles, Kelce has been a three-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro. He’s putting together a career that might one day be Hall of Fame worthy and he’s arguably the best offensive lineman in franchise history. The only sixth-round pick in the HOF is Lions DB Jack Christiansen, who was drafted in 1951.
2. Brian Rolle (2011, No. 193)
The 5-foot-9 linebacker out of Ohio State played in all 16 games as a rookie and even started 13 of them. He was fourth on the team in tackles during the Dream Team season and also had a sack and a fumble recovery touchdown. But he played in just four games in 2012 before he was released and never played in the NFL again. After an offseason stint with the Steelers, Rolle played briefly in the CFL.
3. Matt Pryor (2018, No. 206)
There’s plenty we still don’t know about Pryor, but the huge offensive lineman has some promise. In his second NFL season, Pryor played in 12 games and made his first NFL start in the playoffs against the Seahawks. Despite his 6-7 frame, the Eagles seem to like him at guard best.
4. Blake Countess (2016, No. 196)
The Eagles really liked the safety coming out of Auburn (he went there after Michigan) but they released the rookie at final cuts. Countess went to LA and joined the Rams practice squad, then played in 37 games with four starts over the next three seasons with the Rams. After coming back to the Eagles for a bit last offseason, Countess played in six games for the Jets in 2019 but was just released. So Countess found some NFL success … just not in Philadelphia.
5. Marvin McNutt (2012, No. 194)
Out of Iowa, McNutt was a fan favorite during training camp in 2020 and it looked like he was going to get an opportunity when Riley Cooper got hurt. He began that rookie season on the practice squad but ended up playing four games as a rookie. He bounced around to a few teams after that but never caught a single pass in the NFL.
6. Charles Scott (2010, No. 200)
The LSU fullback was actually traded for Troy cornerback Jorrick Calvin just before final cuts in August. Scott was with the Cardinals briefly and then joined the Giants after that. Calvin played in 12 games for the Eagles that season, returning kicks and punts. So Scott never played for the Eagles but at least they got something for him.
7. Elijah Qualls (2017, No. 214)
In 2017, the defensive tackle from Washington played in six games for the Eagles and was a part of the Super Bowl team. But he was waived at final cuts the next season. Despite time with the Panthers, Ravens and Buccaneers, Qualls hasn’t played in the NFL since. He is currently on the DC Defenders of the XFL.
8. Brandon Washington (2012, No. 200)
The offensive lineman from Miami didn’t make the Eagles’ roster as a rookie so he went to the Rams. He spent the next few years in St. Louis but played in just one regular season game. He then played in the CFL and was on the 2017 Toronto Argonauts team that won the Grey Cup.
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