Eagles need another Reggie White

By Jonathan Tamari, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Posted: April 22, 2012

Love them or hate them, the Eagles' draft picks on the defensive line usually have been memorable.

They have been stars who set standards of Eagles excellence. They have been colorful. They have been busts of historic proportions. They have been hated and loved and have died tragically early. They are rarely boring.

Start at the top, with Reggie White, who was taken in the 1984 supplemental draft and became one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history. He made seven Pro Bowls with the Eagles and six with the Green Bay Packers after leaving as perhaps the most sought-after free agent in NFL history. He died suddenly at the age of 43 and was inducted posthumously into the Hall of Fame, and his image now looms over Lincoln Financial Field.

At the other end of the spectrum is Mike Mamula, the seventh overall choice in 1995, who remains synonymous with bad drafting.

In between is a cast of characters that would be difficult to invent.

Jerome Brown, taken ninth overall in 1987, was an irrepressible personality and excellent tackle who died when he lost control of his Corvette and crashed. He was 27.

Clyde Simmons became a two-time Pro Bowler alongside White and Brown after being a ninth-round pick in 1986, and coach Andy Reid struck late-round gold by taking Trent Cole in 2005.

Of course, Reid also took Jerome McDougle 15th in 2003. After a series of injuries, he was shot one offseason. He returned to play but didn't have a single start in six NFL seasons.

The list is long, and, of course, some linemen followed more routine paths. But the picks keep coming. In Reid's 13 drafts, the Eagles have taken seven defensive ends or defensive tackles in rounds one or two.

Five times, Reid has picked in the top 15 overall. He took Donovan McNabb in 1999, and his four other picks in the top 15 have been defensive linemen.

Reid is slated to pick at 15 this year. History says there's a good chance he finds a lineman he likes. And there's a good chance we'll be talking about him for some time, for better or for worse.

Contact staff writer Jonathan Tamari at 215-854-5214, jtamari@phillynews.com or follow @JonathanTamari on Twitter.

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