The Eagles are just over a week away from the biggest game of the last ten years. What’s crazy to think however is that through all of the culture changes, culture shifts and undulating season’s, that the heart of the 2012 Draft class has been crucial to the team’s success. The first class that was compiled by Howie Roseman.
Round 1: Fletcher Cox
The $100M dollar man needs little introduction. Drafted out of Mississippi State, the potential possessed by Fletcher Cox was to become one of the league’s elite defensive tackles. It’s safe to say that in 2017, Cox has reached that benchmark. With 5.5 sacks on the season, Cox has become one of the few names in the league who command attention no matter what the scenario. When partnered with Tim Jernigan and given some slight leverage on those matchups, Cox ran riot. His last two games have been absolutely dominant. Cox was a huge reason behind the team’s recent playoff success, amassing a total of 10 tackles and a sack in that period.
Round 2: Mychal Kendricks
From an impressive outside linebacker to a player who simply fell out of favor, Kendricks has endured quite the rollercoaster. From the high’s of the Chip Kelly era, to the low’s of a 2016 season that mostly saw him watching on from the sideline, the Cal standout has forced his way back into the picture and been a reliable coverage linebacker during a time of need for the Eagles. With 77 tackles and 2 sacks on the season, there is no questioning the impact that Kendricks has had this season, especially in a season without Jordan Hicks.
Round 2: Vinny Curry
Curry played his way to a huge extension in 2015 and after a bumpy season where he struggled to finish the explosive plays he made, Curry has rebounded nicely. Curry exploded this year with 42 tackles, nearly doubling his tally last year and registering a trio of sacks in the process. Where Curry has been most dominant, is against the run. The Neptune, NJ native has proven to be an integral cog in the #1 ranked run defense machine.
Round 3: Nick Foles
Nick Foles has also been on quite the journey since being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles back in 2012. But through the staggering 27/2 TD/INT ratio success and the low’s of the brief stint with L.A., all that matters is that Foles returned and was able to put the team on his back when it mattered most. Playing the game of his life against the Vikings, Foles showed that same mesmerizing potential as he did in 2013 and guided a stuttering Eagles offense to the grandest stage of all.
The draft wasn’t a complete hit. Brandon Boykin was a serviceable fourth round pick prior to his downfall and even Bryce Brown was cable to carve a career elsewhere. Prior to the Chip Kelly era, this was the last real draft before the franchise would change forever. Even now, five full years later, Howie Roseman is still reaping the seeds he planted all those season’s ago. Clinging onto his pieces and paying them suitably to ensure they stick around, it’s safe to say the mindset has worked wonders.
Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
