What a decade it's been for the Philadelphia Eagles. The highest of highs, the lowest of lows, and a lot of bumps and bruises along the way. We've seen the end of the Andy Reid era, the rise and fall of Chip Kelly, and the beginning of a new dawn under Doug Pederson. But if we were to build an All-Decade Eagles team, just how good would it be?
Quarterback: Carson Wentz
There's no other logical option here (sorry Sam Bradford). I know, I know. Nick Foles won a Super Bowl in absolutely miraculous circumstances, but his bigger picture (CC Jacksonville) hasn't been as fairytale-worthy. If I'm building a team, I want the best quarterback possible...and that man is Carson Wentz.
The tail end of the McNabb era was nothing to write home about and Carson Wentz has done more than show he's capable of carrying this franchise for the foreseeable future. With just 250 passing yards on Sunday, he becomes the first Eagles QB in NFL history to throw for 4,000 passing yards in a single season. Considering he's doing that by throwing passes to a group of inexperienced pass-catchers without any real star-power, and his current 26-7 TD/INT ratio is even more impressive.
We can look at the MVP-level campaign in 2017 if you're still nor sold, but I think we can get everything we need to know from this year alone. Someone that's stepped up in the face of adversity and rallied his team to crucial comebacks late in the fourth quarter, overcome anonymous sources within the locker room slandering him, and still delivered some of the most mesmerizing QB play you'll ever see. That's my quarterback.
Running back: LeSean McCoy
Miles Sanders may be well on his way to becoming Shady 2.0, but the real slim shady is who we're rolling with here.The human joystick spent five years with the Eagles and during that time led all running backs with 6,155 yards. Averaging 4.7 yards per carry, McCoy was a bonafide star and the Eagles are yet (Sanders pending) to find another who can break ankles and change games the way that McCoy once did.
Offensive tackles: Jason Peters & Lane Johnson
Give me this duo until the day I die. There may be no better combination of tackles in the NFL and the Eagles have been blessed by their elite play for such an extended period of time, it's often overlooked.
Peters may be on the decline now, but the bodyguard has been one of the lone constants on this team since arriving all the way back in 2009, making six Pro Bowls in that timeframe. He's a future Hall of Famer, no question.
Lane Johnson is the modern-day prototype for a right tackle. We'll take the PED situations and let them slide for this one, because Johnson has been nothing short of elite when anchoring the right side over the last few years.
Offensive guards: Evan Mathis & Brandon Brooks
Oh, how I miss Evan Mathis. He was a former journeyman who in his first season as an Eagle, became a Pro Bowl-caliber offensive guard. He made two pro bowl appearances during his four-year tenure with the Eagles and was named an all-pro in 2013.
On the other side, Brandon Brooks. What more needs to be said about this man other than the fact that he's an absolute warrior? Recovering from a torn Achilles way ahead of schedule and mauling his way through everyone in his path? Inspiring a generation of Eagles fans through being so open about his battle with anxiety? Being named a Pro Bowler three years in a row? There's nothing else that needs to be said. Brooks is an elite talent and Philly is lucky to have him.
Center: Jason Kelce
It's amazing that out of an entire decade of play, 4/5 of the players on this list are still on the team today. Jason Kelce has played in 130 games since being drafted by the Eagles, garnering three Pro Bowl appearances along the way.
Kelce has been a constant throughout three eras of play...that's stunning.
His athleticism when it comes to run-blocking, dominance in pass-pro and passion he has to lift everyone around him can't be questioned. Kelce may end up on the all-time Eagles team list.
Tight ends: Zach Ertz & Brent Celek
Give me this duo until the day I die: Part two. Zach Ertz is breaking every record in his path and Brent Celek will go down as one of the all-time great Eagles. This partnership was so fun to watch. Celek was a great blocker who often provided a receiving burst when nobody expected, while the rise of Zach Ertz since he was drafted in 2013 has been amazing to watch.
Name a more wholesome moment than seeing Brent Celek win a Lombardi Trophy.
Wide receivers: DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Jordan Matthews
Right, listen. As a WR3 it was between Jason Avant, Jordan Matthews and Nelson Agholor. I'm taking the man who led the NFL in slot receiving yards from 2014-2016 and then developed into a WR2 who caught a touchdown against the Saints two years later.
DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin were a simply iconic duo. The speed of DeSean Jackson needs no explanation. He was also the team's most productive receiver this decade by a country mile, recording 4,208 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Maclin was one of the more underrated receivers of the decade and caught 287 passes for 3,998 yards and 32 touchdowns across four years with the Birds. I could've gone with Alshon Jeffery, but I haven't really seen anything that convinces me he's worth the immense salary he's been guaranteed next year since 2017.
Defensive all-decade selections are listed on the page below.
Defensive tackle: Fletcher Cox & Bennie Logan
Fletcher Cox is a generational talent and will forever be underrated thanks to the existence of Aaron Donald. He's a five-time Pro Bowler already and has been on the team for eight years now, garnering an astonishing 48.5 sacks in that span, the most ever by an Eagles defensive tackle.
If we partner that with the run-stuffing monster that was Bennie Logan, I think that would make for a truly dominant partnership in the Jim Schwartz scheme.
Defensive end: Trent Cole & Brandon Graham
The eyes of Trent Cole still give me nightmares. His 38.5 sacks with the Eagles this decade don't do him justice. Cole was an absolute monster, whose 85.5 sacks as an Eagle are second only to Reggie White.
As for Brandon Graham, he's the only player not named Jason Peters to have spent the entire decade in Philly. He's seen some ups and downs, a Super Bowl ring and of course has 50 sacks to his name and one of the most iconic plays in franchise history. Featuring anyone else on this list would almost be criminal.
Linebackers: Connor Barwin, DeMeco Ryans, Mychal Kendricks
Jordan Hicks almost made this list, but Simba only bows to Mufasa. These three all had glowing stints in Philadelphia.
DeMeco Ryans never made the Pro Bowl, but he was healthy and set the tone for the defense. A real defensive leader, Mufasa was a stout run defender and a great force over the middle.
Connor Barwin needs no introduction really. 14.5 sacks in 2014? That should be enough to get on this team alone, forget the fact he survived a positional switch and ruthlessness as a blitzer. Barwin was a player synonymous with everything Philadelphia stood for.
As for Mychal Kendricks, he manned the OLB spot for around five years or so and enjoyed one of the best preseason statements in recent memory. We stan, Mychal, we stan. He also had 14 sacks, 3 picks, 6 forced fumbles and helped the Eagles win a ring.
Cornerbacks: Asante Samuel, Brandon Boykin, Patrick Robinson
Ugh, this hurt my head.
It's actually mad how Asante Samuel still makes this team despite playing 25 games during a ten-year window. The man was an incredible talent and a certified hall of famer, and his 23 interceptions during three years (one just outside of the decade mark) would be a blessing to a defense that produces less turnovers than a closed down bakery. Samuel's a three-time Pro Bowler and easily makes this list.
Brandon Boykin. 17 pass defenses in a single season. 6 picks the year before? Sign me up. It was such a shame to see career cut short, but oh, what could've been. Boykin easily makes the cut here.
I get that Jalen Mills has done a lot for this team, but if I'm picking a slot cornerback, I'm willing to go all-in on one of the best stories imaginable. Patrick Robinson's 2017 season started off with an awful training camp where he was only bumped into the nickel thanks to the trade for Ronald Darby. That was where Robinson shined, and where he would shine all year long for the Eagles in the best single-season performance by any Eagles corner since Asante Samuel. Fight me.
Safeties: Malcolm Jenkins & Rodney McLeod
Jenkins is one of the best Safeties in Eagles history, period. His three-pro bowls don't do his play justice and believe it or not, he's STILL never missed a single game. Not one. 11 INT's, 5.5 sacks and 31 TFL still don't ring true just how impressive Jenkins has been, gluing a secondary together that has looked destined to fall apart for years now.
McLeod will never get the praise he deserves. His 2018 season started off so sensually, it's horrible that an injury ruined it. He's been about as stable as you could ask since joining the secondary in 2016 and had a great game in Super Bowl 52.
Special teamers: Jake Elliott, Cameron Johnston, Jon Dorenbos
The Eagles have a franchise kicker. This is not a drill. The iconic 61-yard winner against the Giants, a dazzling Super Bowl, and the hottest start to a season by any kicker in Eagles history have earned Elliott a new deal and a place in this list.
Donnie Jones vs Cameron Johnston. One pulls on your heartstrings, the other plunges punts inside the 20, saving the Eagles from utter embarrassment on a weekly basis. Cameron and his Iron Leg actually hold the NFL record for highest career punting average...so, sorry Donnie, but this one goes to the man who has literally been one of the teams most valuable assets over the last two years.
Oh, and Jon Dorenbos. Because he's the most lovable human ever and a two-time Pro Bowler. All. Time. Great.
I'm sure many of you disagree with this, so please let me know your selections in the comments! And more than anything, have a happy new year!
