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Philadelphia Eagles Remix Andy Reid’s Winning Formula

By Bret Stuter

Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Carson Wentz (North Dakota State) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Philadelphia Eagles as the number one overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Carson Wentz (North Dakota State) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Philadelphia Eagles as the number one overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Seventeen years after Andy Reid‘s debut, the Philadelphia Eagles have set about remixing his winning formula for prodigy Doug Pederson

The puzzle just got its corner – or rather the Philadelphia Eagles have their franchise quarterback on board.   In NFL terms, that translates into stability at the key offensive role for the next decade, a desperately needed component to ensuring that new head coach Doug Pederson’s debut will go smoothly.

To be honest, Pederson is following in the footsteps of mentor Andy Reid’s career track almost religiously.  When Andy Reid arrived in Philadelphia, his first draft started with a pick at number two for Syracuse quarterback Donovan McNabb.   Now, years later, Doug Pederson has opened his first draft with a pick at number two for North Dakota State’s quarterback Carson Wentz.  Looking back to the 1999 NFL Draft, the Eagles had a second round pick used on linebacker Barry Gardner (no 2nd pick this year) and a third round pick on offensive guard Doug Brzezinski.  Strikingly parallel, the Philadelphia Eagles DID have a third round pick and, low and behold, they have selected an offensive guard from Oregon State by the name of Isaac Seumalo.

If the parallels are not freakishly coincidences, then the 1999 draft may have more to reveal for our day three picks (which are five, five, six, seven and seven).  In 1999, the Eagles had two fourth round picks used to grab safety Damon Moore and wide receiver Na Brown, no fifth round pick, and then two sixths for fullback Cecil Martin and wide receiver Troy Smith.  The Eagles ended that year with two seventh round picks of tight end Jed Weaver and defensive tackle Pernell Davis.

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Which of these pick could translate into 2016 picks?  Well, a wide receiver in round five would be welcome indeed, and any defensive back in that round would be a nice addition too.  The team hit big on fullback Cecil Martin, so I actually look for the team to go the fullback route in round six.  The pair of sevens for the Eagles this year could end up with a defensive tackle – a very deep position in this draft, as well as a running back.

Could the 2016 day three parallel the 1999 draft as closely as days one and two?  Indeed it can, as the team needs are similar to the team needs of yesteryear, and the philosophy of Andy Reid is instilled in the new head coach of the Eagles, Doug Pederson. We know the team is looking to bolster it offensive backs, receivers, and defensive backs – so the team will be well served to draft in those areas.

The big difference is the area of compensatory picks.  The Eagles of yesteryear had great free agency attrition than acquisition, and were frequently awards compensatory draft picks.  The modern day Philadelphia Eagles team has no such advantage.  Still, the areas addressed by free agency factored into comparisons with 1999 show that the teams are virtually identical in their shopping lists.  Now whether the results will be comparable will be the true test.

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