10 biggest first-round draft busts in Philadelphia Eagles history
54. . . . Freddie Mitchell. . player
The Philadelphia Eagles pass on future Hall of Famers for Freddie Mitchell in 2001.
Sitting just outside of the top ten is Freddie Mitchell. Throw this one in the category of dishonorable mentions.
Anyone that knows anything about Andy Reid’s Philadelphia Eagles knows that Big Red often went with a defensive lineman or an offensive lineman in the first round of the NFL Draft whenever the Birds were on the clock.
Perhaps that’s what he should have done instead of drafting Freddie Mitchell with the 25th-overall selection of 2001’s NFL Draft.
Sure, the natural reaction would be to say that had Philly never taken FredEx, there may have never been a 4th and 26 to discuss, but then again, had they gone with one of the better receivers that they passed up (Reggie Wayne and Chad Johnson), they never would have found themselves in fourth and long late during that playoff game versus the Packers in the first place.
Believe it or not, by taking Mitchell, the Eagles also passed on Todd Heap, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Alge Crumpler, and Kris Jenkins, and get this. Even though they had Donovan McNabb, they passed on a promising young signal-caller from Purdue by the name of Drew Brees. Too bad there was no Quarterback Factory then huh?
Freddie Mitchell went on to snag 107 receptions for 1,450 yards and six touchdowns in an Eagles jersey from 2001 to 2004. Those numbers include his postseason totals. Reggie Wayne topped those numbers in 2007 and again in 2010, en route to 1,163 receptions, 15,599 receiving yards, and 91 touchdowns for his 11-year NFL career.
Another dishonorable mention: Kevin Allen
Kevin Allen was Philly’s ninth-overall selection in 1985. He sits right outside of the top ten at 11. He played one awful year with four starts and was cut a year later due to legal trouble. Buddy Ryan called him a USFL reject. Jerry Rice went seven picks later. Andre Reed and Kevin Greene were also on the board. Sheesh!