Your votes on Twitter have led to the creation of the All-2010s Offensive team, and now we're onto the defense and special teams. Who has stood out to you, the fans, to place on the decade's defense, and the kicker, punter, and long snapper? Let's take a look!
Defensive Tackle - Fletcher Cox and Bennie Logan
To kick off the defense edition of the All-Decade team, we take a look at the defensive tackle position.
Fletcher Cox
To really describe Fletcher Cox and the impact he's had on the Eagles since being drafted in 2012, just take a look:
https://twitter.com/PFF_AustinGayle/status/1128686229241913349
Pure dominance.
Cox has been in the league since 2012 and has been one of the top defensive tackles ever since. A lot of players disappear after signing massive contracts, like Cox did in 2016, but he rewarded the Eagles' faith in him by setting a career high in sacks last year with 10.5.
Ten and a half sacks. From the defensive tackle position. Insane.
He's arguably the best defensive tackle in the game, but many people will say Aaron Donald.
Still, being in company with Aaron Donald is pretty good.
Since being drafted, Cox is fifth among defensive tackles in sacks, sixth in QB hits, tied for third in forced fumbles, and first in fumble recoveries. He's a monster.
Going into the 2019 season, Cox is ProFootballFocus' fourth ranked player in the entire league, trailing Bobby Wagner, Tom Brady, and number one Aaron Donald.
Bennie Logan
Want to run on the Eagles? Better hope Bennie Logan isn't in the line up.
In 2016, Logan's last year with the Eagles, opposing teams averaged 90.1 rush yards when he played the full game, 141 rush yards when he didn't play or finish the game.
In 2015, he was fourth among interior linemen with 45 defensive stops, according to ProFootballFocus, and was second in run stop percentage with 14.8%
Logan only had four years with the Eagles, but he made them count.
Defensive Ends - Brandon Graham & Trent Cole
Brandon Graham
Another player, like Cox, whose impact on the team can be summarized by a video:
https://twitter.com/fanaticsview/status/960864660957351937
Once considered a bust by many, many Eagles fans, Graham is probably the most beloved Eagle currently on the team. I guess that sack-fumble has a lot to do with that.
He played a combined 16 games in his first two seasons in the NFL, due to a torn ACL in his rookie year which limited him to just three games in his second season.
He played in all 16 games in 2012, but did not start a full 16 game season until 2016. In that full 16 game start, he led the team in quarterback pressures, and did the same in 2017. In 2014, 2015, and 2018 he was second on the team in quarterback pressures. However, despite being second on his team in 2018, he was fifth among all edge defenders in the NFL with 77 quarterback pressures, according to ProFootballFocus.
In 2016, he was one of four defensive players in the entire league to have more then 80 quarterback pressures. Furthermore, since 2006, he is second among edge defenders with 2,000+ pass rushing snaps with a 18.6% win rate, behind only Von Miller.
Safe to say he's shed that "bust" label, don't ya think?
Trent Cole
Next we have a player who spent ten years with the Eagles, and a case can be made for both the All-2010s and All-2000s team. Trent Cole's ten seasons with the Eagles started in 2005 after being drafted in the fifth round.
During his five years in the 2010s decade with the Eagles, Cole was 17th in sacks in the NFL and ninth in tackles.
If I cheat and add his years in the 2000s with the Eagles, he moves to eighth in sacks and fifth in tackles. Trent Cole was, simply put, a machine.
He retired as a member of the Eagles on Christmas Day 2017, and will always be one of the best defensive players in Eagles history:
https://twitter.com/EaglesInsider/status/573228848231395328
More positions on the pages below!
Linebackers - DeMeco Ryans & Nigel Bradham
DeMeco Ryans
Ryans is one of the least tenured Eagles on this entire All-2010s team, but he made his impact almost immediately felt once he came to the Eagles.
Acquired in a trade with the Texans in 2012, Ryans had 113 tackles in his first season with the Eagles. He followed that with a 127 tackle season in 2013. His 2014 season was cut short after eight games due to an Achilles injury, but he did have 45 tackles in that half of a season.
In his final season with the Eagles, 2015, he played in 14 games but only had 49 tackles. His role on the defense was more of a mentor for then rookie Jordan Hicks, who was lost for the season just a week after Ryans.
But despite his short tenure, the fans felt that his impact on the defense was big enough to be part of the All-2010s team.
Nigel Bradham
Another member of the short tenure club on this list is Nigel Bradham, but his tenure with the Eagles is even shorter than Ryans'.
Bradham was signed by the Eagles in 2016 after four years with Buffalo. The signing brought him back together with his former defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who was the DC for the Bills in 2014. During that season, Bradham had 104 tackles and two and a half sacks, both are still career highs.
In his three seasons with the Eagles, Bradham has averaged 94.3 tackles and has only missed two games. He has been the undisputed leader of the linebacker corps and is signed through 2022.
He has also played in 91.07% of the snaps in games he played, pretty reliable. Bradham is well deserving of his spot on this 2010s list, and he has a chance to cement that in 2019.
Cornerbacks - Jalen Mills, Rasul Douglas, & Brandon Boykin
Jalen Mills
The short tenure club defense continues!
Mills might possibly be the most talked about player on this whole team, but not for the same reasons as the others.
Philly fans, based on those oh-so-rational Twitter and Facebook opinions, aren't the fondest of Mills. He was an elite corner in the red zone last season, yes elite:
https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1086364365761273858
But fans will argue that Mills gets those red zone opportunities due to his penchant to getting burnt on a double move (something MANY corners get beat on).
Since entering the league, Mills has the 25th most tackles among corners despite playing in the 53rd most games. Extrapolate those numbers over the same amount of games as the leader, Byron Jones, and Mills would be fifth. I know, I know, coulda, shoulda, woulda. But Mills is the kind of cornerback defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz loves and he isn't afraid of contact. Fans want the spectacular interceptions, but Mills isn't that type of corner. Mills will be on the team for years to come, so time to start supporting him.
Rasul Douglas
You know you're popular with the fans when you get selected to an All-Decades team after only two seasons with the teams.
Rasul Douglas was selected in the third round of the 2017 draft and has shown off his play making abilities in his two seasons. Since 2017, Douglas ranks 19th, tied with players like Malcolm Butler and Chris Harris, with five interceptions. He's also not afraid to get into the backfield, with six tackles for loss, 19th in the entire NFL among corners.
He combines that ability to get into the backfield with the ability to also go stride for stride down the field with receivers:
https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1109247389054001152
From week 12 to the divisional round loss against the Saints, ProFootballFocus had Douglas ranked as the seventh best corner in the entire NFL and the best at run defense and tackling.
Even with these stats to back up his talent, it's quite possible Douglas doesn't get a starting gig next season. But when he does get on the field, expect plays to be made.
Brandon Boykin
A short, yet productive, tenure with the Eagles lands Boykin on this list as our last corner on the All-2010s team.
Boykin was drafted by the Eagles in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft and spent three seasons with the Eagles before being yet another Chip Kelly casualty.
Boykin played in all 16 games in every season with the team, but only started six games in all three seasons combined.
He had a career year in 2013 with six interceptions, tied for second in the league. His performance landed him as the third best corner in the league in ProFootballFocus' grading system.
At the time of his trade to the Steelers, Boykin was coming off a season where ProFootballFocus ranked him 21st out of all corners. Chip Kelly dealt away an extremely talented player.
Boykin hasn't been in an NFL game since 2015, having bounced around since then but failing to make an NFL roster.
Brandon, if you're reading this, just know that we appreciated you here in Philly!
Safeties - Malcolm Jenkins & Rodney McLeod
Malcolm Jenkins
What more can be said of the Eagles' Ironman than what has been said already?
Jenkins played in 100% of the snaps in 2018. One hundred percent. Here's how it broke down:
https://twitter.com/BrandonGowton/status/1151521326517104640
He also has never missed a game or start for the Eagles in his tenure with the team.
Since coming to the Eagles in 2014, Jenkins has the 11th most interceptions among safeties and the most pass deflections. He is one of three safeties to play in all 80 games since 2014, and only one of two to start all 80.
He has the fifth most solo tackles, sixth most combined tackles, and the seventh most tackles for loss. Jenkins is all over the field during games. He's virtually unstoppable.
He is doing things like this in almost every game:
https://twitter.com/MalcolmJenkins/status/1125401548568367104
Jenkins is entering his 11th year in the league, sixth with the Eagles, and is most deserving of a new contract. Don't be surprised if the Eagles make that contract offer before the season starts and lock up Jenkins for another few years.
Rodney McLeod
Two straight promising years with the Eagles since coming over from the Rams in 2016, but one big injury filled one last year.
McLeod opened his Eagles career with three interceptions in 2016, along with 80 tackles and seven pass deflections.
2017 came with 50 tackles and six pass deflections, but he still had three interceptions.
Last season ended for McLeod after three games when he suffered a knee injury in the game against the Colts.
But despite his short tenure with the Eagles, and only two full seasons with the team, Eagles fans believe he's the choice for the All-2010s team to pair with Malcolm Jenkins.
Specialists - Jake Elliott, Donnie Jones, & Jon Dorenbos
Jake Elliott
Despite playing in only 31 games for the Eagles, Elliott has surpassed the likes of Caleb Sturgis, Alex Henery, and Cody Parkey. Oh, wow, well, I guess his competition wasn't really that difficult.
Since coming onto the Eagles, Elliott has made the 11th most field goals in the NFL and seventh most extra points. However, that comes with an 83.9% conversion rate on field goals, 23rd in the league, and a 93.5% conversion rate on extra points, 28th in the league.
While Elliott needs to work on his accuracy, his leg strength is elite. His long kick last year was 56 yards and in 2017 his long kick was:
https://twitter.com/Eagles/status/913037229282357248
If he can stay with the Eagles for a long career, his trajectory points towards a David Akers-like career. Akers spent 11 years with the Eagles, so if Elliott spends the same amount and averages 26 field goals a year, he'll reach 286 field goals for the Eagles, second behind Akers' 294.
Donnie Jones
Donnie Longball! Has a specialist ever been so beloved by the Eagles fanbase? Well the next guy on the list may be the most beloved, but Jones is definitely up there.
Jones spent five years with the Eagles from 2013 to 2017. Despite his Eagles tenure being only five years, he is the franchise leader in punting yards.
During his tenure, he was tenth in the league in punting yards and 15th in yards per punt among punters with over 250 punts.
Let's end his section of the article with this treasure:
https://twitter.com/bbrooks_79/status/962391957711609860
Jon Dorenbos
The Magic Man. Jon Dorenbos spent ten seasons with the Eagles from 2007 to 2016. He made two Pro Bowls and was one of the steadiest long snappers in the NFL. In 2014, ProFootballFocus ranked him as the best long snapper in the NFL.
The Eagles attempted to trade Dorenbos to the Saints in 2017, but the trade was nullified after the Saints' team doctors found a heart condition that would ultimately lead to Dorenbos having heart surgery.
The surgery was successful and Dorenbos has led a happy, and magical, life since.
So there you have it Eagles fans! Your All-2010s Eagles team! Stay tuned for the All-2000s vote!
Also make sure you get ready for a brand new Eagles podcast from us called Flippin' The Birds!
