Philadelphia Eagles missed out on Ha Ha Clinton-Dix big time in 2014

With the NFL draft set to air tonight, we thought it would be fun to take a trip down memory lane. Revisiting a certain draft pick we still have not gotten over.

There is no question that the Philadelphia Eagles have been dealt some pretty good hands in previous NFL drafts, but unfortunately they have also been dealt some pretty bad hands as well.

While some of those tough breaks were by no fault of their own, some were unfortunately self-inflicted wounds by the Eagles, some of which are still hurting the team to this day.

It never helps to look too far back in drafts, but some Eagles fans to this day still wonder what could have been if the team selected a certain someone back in 2014.

During the draft that year, the Eagles had the No. 22 pick in the first round, and were in need of improving the secondary since it had been a sore spot in Philadelphia’s defense quite some time.

After a handful of top prospects went off the board, the Eagles were hopeful for a defensive back from Alabama in HaHa Clinton-Dix, who was a promising safety, and expressed previous interest in playing for the Eagles.

Philadelphia had already picked up former New Orleans Saints star Malcolm Jenkins during free agency, but also Philadelphia could have found a way to make this duo work.

While Jenkins would have been able to play free safety, Clinton-Dix could have benefitted from playing at strong safety.

There was quite a bit of hype surrounding this possibility of the Eagles drafting Clinton-Dix, but unfortunately this dream never got the chance to become a reality.

Clinton-Dix remained on the board longer than expected, but just when it seemed like Philly’s prayers were going to be answered, the Alabama star was selected at No. 21 by the Green Bay Packers.

Forced into panic mode, the Eagles traded down and drafted defensive end, Marcus Smith, which as every Eagles fan would quickly learn would turn out to be a complete bust.

Flash forward to present day, Clinton-Dix has had a decent career thus far. During his time with the Packers, the Washington Redskins, and the Chicago Bears, he served as a reliable starter and key contributor in their defensive core.

In seven years, Clinton-Dix has racked up 522 tackles, and has 16 interceptions, continuing to remind Philadelphia and their fans what could have been if the team made a stronger pursuit in 2014 during the draft.

Some of Clinton-Dix’s success has also come at the expense of the Eagles over the years. In 2016, Clinton-Dix, picked off a pass from Eagles quarterback, Carson Wentz, as the Packers went on to beat the Eagles, 27-13.

In a way, it’s safe to say the Packers got the last laugh.

To add salt to the wound over what could have been in Philadelphia back in 2014, Clinton-Dix was recently signed by the Dallas Cowboys.

Nothing like having to play the one that got away, or the one that was stolen from you twice a year, right?

Considering the struggles Philadelphia has faced with their defensive backs, it is easy to understand why there is still so much wondering over what could have been with Clinton-Dix, and why there will forever be a grudge towards Green Bay from what took place in 2014.