Top 15 draft picks taken in Philadelphia Eagles history
player. 54. . . . Randall Cunningham (1985). 15
Randall Cunningham is a Philadelphia Eagles legend for several reasons.
These days, it’s common to see African-American quarterbacks in the National Football League who are thriving at the position. It wasn’t always that way though.
In 1985, Philadelphia selected Randall Cunningham with the 37th-overall selection, during Round 2 of that year’s selection meeting. A revolution began on that day, evolution at the quarterback position if you will. If only the Eagles had put some better playmakers around him for most of his career.
Randall edges out Sonny Jurgensen for the 15th spot on the list even though Sonny is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and won an NFL Championship with Philadelphia, and he does so for three reasons.
One, if we’re being honest, we all remember Sonny as a Washington quarterback. Second, ‘The Ultimate Weapon’ had more natural talent, and third, Randall gave birth to a new generation of signal-callers. He was one of the first black superstar quarterbacks to thrive as the NFL reached a new level of popularity, and it’s because of him, that young black men all over the country believed that they could play the position as well.
Randall paved the way for Michael Vick, Steve McNair, Russell Wilson, Cam Newton, Lamar Jackson, and, yes, Jalen Hurts. He also paved the way for this next guy on the list.