5 Best Philadelphia Eagles rookie seasons from 2000-2009
. . . Corey Simon . 90. player. 54
Eagles defensive tackle Corey Simson terrorized quarterbacks during his rookie season.
The Philadelphia Eagles were looking to beef up their defensive line during the 2000 NFL Draft, and they did exactly that with the selection of Corey Simon, the sixth player taken. He was a six-foot-two, 300-pounder out of Florida State University.
Simon didn’t disappoint during his first season with the Birds as a professional. He collected 52 total tackles, 9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 16 games.
Those numbers were impressive enough to ensure he would finish third in the race for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher would take home the gold medal, but Corey actually wound up with more sacks than Urlacher produced. The Chicago star finished with eight to close his rookie campaign.
Simon also produced the second-highest sack total on the Eagles roster. Veteran defensive end Hugh Douglas led the unit with 15.
Simon came within 1 1/2 sacks short that year of breaking the rookie record for sacks turned in by a defensive tackle. Former Minnesota Vikings star Keith Millard holds that distinction having turned in 11 quarterback takedowns in 1985. Simon’s 9.5 sacks, however, are still an Eagles franchise record.