Here’s what 5 Eagles rookie head coaches did with their first NFL draft choice

The Eagles selected a shining star of the NFL Scouting Combine with their first-round selection in 1995.

At the beginning of the Ray Rhodes era in Philadelphia, there were obvious holes. One of which was the impossible task of replacing Reggie White who had left to join Green Bay. The Birds swung for the fences and missed by selecting Mike Mamula out of Boston College in the 1995 NFL Draft. They ignored better players like Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks in the process.

Had the 1995 NFL Scouting Combine been an Olympic event, Mamula would have won the gold medal. He spent his offseason training specifically for the drills he would be asked to run. He hired a track coach and other specialists that would help get him to achieve the best showing possible. His plan worked. He shot up draft boards.

Pre-combine, he was predicted to go anywhere from rounds 3-7. Post-combine he was graded as a first-round selection.

His rookie season produced 41 tackles, 5.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. He earned a spot on the Pro Football Writers of America’s NFL All-Rookie Team for his efforts. He improved in his second season (52 tackles, eight sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and one ‘scoop-and-score’.

Unfortunately, his first two seasons produced all that he had to give. He notched 81 tackles, 18 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and a pick-six during his final four seasons with the Birds. He’s forever remembered as a bust, but in fairness, he probably wasn’t as bad as people say he was. He was decent. He was never going to be great.