Revisiting Eagles 2013 NFL Draft selections of Lane Johnson & Zach Ertz

The 2023 NFL Draft was one to remember. It arrived at full speed and was over just as quickly. The Philadelphia Eagles added seven new Birds to the family before eventually adding a nine-man UDFA class. Howie Roseman mad moves and was, again, exceptional. We should be accustomed to that by now.

Ahead of the most recent selection meeting, they inked their massive contract extension with Jalen Hurts, one he rightfully deserved. The hope is the front office has hit on these seven draft picks. If they have, Roseman has ensured Philadelphia will be in the playoff and Super Bowl contention for the foreseeable future.

Much is expected of Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith, much like the high expectations we had for Lane Johnson and Zach Ertz many moons ago, the 2013 NFL Draft to be exact. That one gave birth to two Eagles legends who became very significant pieces to the Eagles organization and story.

With the fourth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Lane Johnson, a tackle out of Oklahoma.

It may have been Chip Kelly’s era, but it was Howie Roseman’s draft, and with the fourth-overall selection, he added Lane Johnson, an offensive tackle from Oklahoma. There were bumps. There were bruises. Two suspensions will always be a part of the Lane Johnson story, but we all know of the resume Lane has constructed.

A transfer from Kilgore College, Johnson originally arrived at Oklahoma as a tight end. He made a position switch and was rebuilt as of the nation’s best offensive tackles in just two years. Things worked out as he ended up becoming a first-round draftee. He has become a franchise legend with a resume that could eventually land him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He’s also one of our favorite follows on social media.

Yes, there’s only one Lane.

Howie wasn’t done in 2013. In Round 2, he added Zach Ertz, a tight end from Stanford.

As much as we despised Chip Kelly’s tenure with the Eagles, at least we can hang our hats on the addition of a couple of legends. Again, Howie Roseman selected them, but you get the idea. We have to take our wins from somewhere.

Philly’s second-round pick in 2023 was  Zach Ertz. Let’s just say that worked out pretty well for them. We all know about the Hall of Fame-esque resume Ertz has produced… And, he’s still playing.

Zach was drafted 35th overall, one selection ahead of Darius Slay who, as you know, was originally drafted by the Detroit Lions before being traded to Philadelphia in May of 2020.  It wasn’t that long ago that the man affectionately referred to as “Big Play” took some time to reminisce about what he referred to as some “dawgs” that were taken in 2013. Check this out:

Dawgs… That’s an interesting word choice. Philly has some dawgs on their roster. They selected two dawgs during April’s draft in 2022, Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean. Trading for another Dawg, D’Andre Swift, has created a buzz as has the selection of three more Dawgs in the most recent draft.

Kelee Ringo was a fourth-rounder. As mentioned earlier, Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith were taken in Round 1. We can only hope their additions are as fruitful as those of Lane Johnson and Zach Ertz. If so, you won’t hear any complaints from the Eagles contingent.

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