NFL draft 2020: Recalling an era when the Eagles drafted great CBs

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Fifth in a series grading the Eagles' premium-round draft picks over the last 40 years. Tomorrow: Offensive tackles.

The Eagles have drafted a lot of busts in the first round over the years, but they have a terrific track record finding cornerbacks.

The Eagles have drafted only three corners in the first round since 1980, but one was a Hall of Fame-caliber player, one was a Pro Bowler who had a long career here and the other was a very promising pro whose career was really derailed by an early knee injury.

In the fifth installment of our “Grading the Draft” series, we grade every cornerback the Eagles have drafted in the first three rounds since 1980.

1st round

Roynell Young (23rd pick in 1980): The Quiet Storm had a largely very good nine-year run here, starting as a rookie for the 1980 Super Bowl team, making the Pro Bowl a year later and picking up 23 interceptions, still 10th most in team history. When he hit 30 in 1986 he lost his wheels.

Grade: B

Ben Smith (22nd pick in 1990): What could have been. Smith’s first 26 games were exceptional, but soon after breaking Bernie Kosar’s NFL record of 308 consecutive passes without an interception in Cleveland in 1991, Smith tore his ACL and was never the same. He started only three more games as an Eagle.

Grade: B 

Lito Sheppard (26th pick in 2002): Was only a starter here for 4½ years, but made two Pro Bowls and in 2006 made first-team All-Pro. Finished with 18 INTs and three pick 6s. Finished career with Jets, Vikings and Raiders. 

Grade: A 

2nd round

Eric Allen (30th pick in 1988): Ridiculous that he's not in the Hall of Fame. Six-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro as an Eagle. Piled up 54 INTs and nine pick 6s in his brilliant career, including post-Eagles stints with the Saints and Raiders. Shares Eagles INT record of 34 with Brian Dawkins and Bill Bradley.

Grade: A-triple plus

Bobby Taylor (50th pick in 1995): Made a name for himself by neutralizing Michael Irvin during their five overlapping seasons. Had huge pick-6 off Michael Vick in 2003 playoff game. Smart, smooth and fast, Taylor finally made the Pro Bowl in 2002, in his eighth season.

Grade: B-plus

Sheldon Brown (59th pick in 2002): Second-round cornerback run continues with Brown, a starter for six of his eight years here. Brown wasn’t flashy but he was consistent, tough, durable, productive and, as Reggie Bush learned, a huge hitter. Only Eric Allen and Malcolm Jenkins have more pick-6s in Eagles history than Brown.

Grade: A-minus

Eric Rowe (47th pick in 2015): Rowe lasted only one year here and started five games. Spent a few years with the Patriots and was a starter on the Dolphins last year. But as an Eagle? He was a disaster.

Grade: F

Sidney Jones (43rd pick in 2017): Maybe I should give Jones an incomplete, since the Eagles didn’t expect him to play as a rookie because of his Achilles injury. But he’s played 21 games with eight starts the last two years and has yet to show he can be an NFL-caliber starting corner. He’s not out of chances yet, but he’s getting close.

Grade: D

3rd round

Derrick Frazier (75th pick in 1993): Eagles’ career was limited to four starts. Out of the league at 26.

Grade: F 

Allen Rossum (85th pick in 1998): Rossum played 12 years and made a Pro Bowl as a returner in 2004. But his Eagles career lasted only two seasons. Decent kick returner but you want more from a third-round pick.

Grade: C 

Matt Ware (89th pick in 2004): It was Ware who was forced to take over in the Super Bowl as a rookie when Rod Hood had to leave the game. Tom Brady immediately went after him and it didn’t go too well. The Eagles cut ties with him a year later, although he did play five more years with the Cards. But as an Eagle?

Grade: D 

Curtis Marsh (90th pick in 2011): The first Eagles third-round pick to never start an NFL game since Mike Reid in 1993.

Grade: F

Rasul Douglas (99th pick in 2017): There was a point where I was pretty high on Douglas, but he took a step backwards last year, and at this point his Eagles future is very much in doubt. But he has started 18 games with 5 INTs so not a total failure.

Grade: C

TOTALS:

1st round: B plus
2nd round: C plus
3rd round: D 
Overall: C 

For the previous installments, click here:

Defensive ends

Defensive tackles

Linebackers

Safeties

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