Today is just as important as yesterday.
Very few people do a second-round mock draft. Only the true hard-core NFL draftniks really talk about the guys getting drafted once the first round is over. The media attention lets up and a lot of people lose interest.
The reality is that the second round — at least for the Eagles — has produced about the same number of elite players as the first round.
Maybe that’s in part because the Eagles’ first-round track record over the last 30 years has been a bit shaky. But if that’s true, their second round has been exceptional.
If you make up an all-time Eagles team, Zach Ertz would be your tight end, LeSean McCoy could very well be your running back, Eric Allen would be one of the cornerbacks and Brian Dawkins would definitely be one of the safeties.
Randall Cunningham and DeSean Jackson wouldn't be far behind.
All were second-round picks.
So were Wes Hopkins, Bobby Taylor, Charlie Garner and Michael Lewis.
All made at least one Pro Bowl. Dawk made nine, Allen and Shady six, Randall four and Ertz and D-Jack made three apiece.
Two of the Eagles’ most exciting young players right now are Miles Sanders and Dallas Goedert, who were both 2nd-round picks. Jordan Matthews, Mychal Kendricks and Vinny Curry all ranged from decent to very good at times. Second rounders.
The Eagles have certainly found some all-time talent in the first round, from Fletcher Cox to Donovan McNabb, Lane Johnson, Mike Quick and Keith Jackson.
But the biggest difference could be the bust rate. Most of the Eagles’ second-round picks over the last couple decades have at least become decent starters. There have been some exceptions — Jaiquawn Jarrett, Trevor Laws, Quinton Caver and so far Sidney Jones.
But that’s true for every team. The Eagles’ 2nd-round record is better than most.
But the 1st-round busts over the years have been spectacular: Marcus Smith, Jerome McDougle, Jon Harris, Leonard Renfro, Fireman Danny. These are guys who couldn’t function in the NFL.
The jury is obviously still out on J.J. Arcega-Whiteside and Jones, but so far for Howie Roseman, Jarrett has been the only true second-round bust.
The Eagles have drafted 14 Pro Bowlers in the first round since 1980 and 10 in the second round, but the first rounders have only made three more Pro Bowls (38) than the second rounders (35).
What does it all mean?
It means that history tells us the Eagles have almost as good a chance of finding a star at No. 53 today than at No. 21 yesterday.
Subscribe and rate the Eagle Eye podcast:
Apple Podcasts / Google Play / Stitcher / Spotify / Art19
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Philadelphia sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Click here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.